Container, apparatus and method for handling an implant

ABSTRACT

A portable container is provided for handling an implant. The container comprises a sealed compartment enclosing a fluid of a pre-defined composition and at least one implant configured to be installed in a live subject. The container may comprise at least one electrode made of an electrical conductive material, electrically associated with an electric conductor outside the sealed compartment and configured for applying a plasma generating electric field inside the sealed compartment. An apparatus for plasma treatment of an implant and having an activation device is further provided. The activation device comprises a slot configured to receive a portable container, and an electrical circuit configured to be electrically associated with at least one electrode. The electrical circuit is configured to provide to the at least one electrode electric power suitable for applying a plasma generating electric field in the sealed compartment, when the portable container is disposed in the slot.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention, in some embodiments, relates to the field of handling animplant prior to using the implant in a body of a live subject and torelated devices, apparatuses and methods.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Plasma, and non-thermal plasma in particular, is known to affectsurfaces of objects that are exposed to the plasma. Generally, plasmarefers herein to ionized gas, including positively charged ions andnegatively charged electrons, wherein the whole volume of the ionizedgas is roughly neutral. Positively charged ions are generally referredto herein simply as “ions” whereas negatively charged electrons arereferred to herein as “electrons”. Neutral atoms and molecules arereferred to as “neutrals”.

Surfaces of objects exposed to plasma may often be affected so that somecharacteristics of the surface change following such exposure. It isbelieved that surface energy and chemistry may change due to thegeneration of reactive species in the plasma, and deposition of chemicalsubstances on the surface. A featured result may be a modification ofthe surface properties. For example, plasma generated in a gaseousatmosphere comprising argon or helium with an admixture of oxygen, oreven in air at low pressure, may render a surface of an object morehydrophilic.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

When an object configured to be installed in a body of a live subject isexposed to plasma under certain conditions, biocompatibility of theobject tends to improve. Such biocompatibility, associated with surfaceproperties of the object, may include higher wettability, more suitabletopography and improved drug delivery. For example, following suitableplasma treatment of an implant, hydrophilic properties of the surface ofthe implant tend to improve. Hydrophilic properties substantiallyenhance the wettability of the surface and improve the initialattachment of blood platelets to the treated implant. Consequently,better healing process may be achieved with substances that have beenexposed to plasma prior to use.

The term “implant” is used herein for any object or substance which isto be installed in a body of a live subject in a medical procedure ofimplantation or installing or grafting, particularly such that is notautologous. Thus, “implant” may include an artificial implant such as animplant made of metal, e.g. a dental implant; or an implant made ofpolymer material such as silicone; or made of ceramic; or anycombination thereof, for example an implant having metallic and ceramicparts. “Implant” may also include biomaterial, where biomaterial isreferred to herein as a substance which is configured to direct adiagnostic or therapeutic process in a body of a live subject, bycontrolling interactions with components of living system in the body.Examples of biomaterial may include bone graft used during a bonegrafting procedure; polymers, and textile-based polymers in particular;hernia mesh, used in a hernia repair procedure; or collagen membraneused in dental surgery procedures.

Better healing process and faster and enriched osseointegration may beachieved with implants, bone graft or other biomaterial that have beenexposed to plasma prior to installing (“osseointegration” herein meansthe direct structural and functional connection between a live bone andan artificial implant or bone graft or other biomaterial installed orused therewith). For example, Atmospheric plasma enhances wettabilityand cell spreading on dental implant metals (J Clin Periodontol 2012;39: 400-407) by Duske et. al. describes significant reduction of contactangle of titanium discs (baseline values: 68°-117°) to close to 0°,irrespective of surface topography, after the application of argonplasma with 1.0% oxygen admixture for 60 s or 120 s. The cell size ofosteoblastic cells grown on argon-oxygen-plasma-treated titanium discswas significantly larger than on non-treated surfaces irrespective ofsurface topography. As another example, D.-S. Lee et al. in Improvementof Hydrophilicity of Interconnected Porous Hydroxyapatite by DielectricBarrier Discharge Plasma Treatment (IEEE Trans. Plasma Sci. 39 (11) 2166(2011)) show that a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma treatmentpromotes hydrophilicity of interconnected porous calcium hydroxyapatite(IP-CHA) surfaces. Further, in Plasma Surface Modification of ArtificialBones for Bone Regeneration (published in ICPM 5, May 18-24, 2014, Nara,Japan), Moriguchil et. al. show that plasma-treatment can improve bonehealing by IP-CHA, enhancing hydrophilicity of IP-CHA and its osteogenicpotential in vitro. As yet another example, plasma surface treatmentoften improves biocompatibility of polystyrene cell culture surfaces,affecting adhesion and proliferation of cells cultures on such surfaces.For example, plasma surface modification of cell-culture materials mayassist in establishing a stable culturing process for cells obtainedfrom a patient's own body, for a later regeneration medicine processwith the patient.

Augmentation mammoplasty involving the surgical implantation oremplacements of breast implants have a significant complication rate,involving for example a capsule contraction rate of up to 30%. Capsulecontracture is believed to be promoted by infection at the implant siteand around the implant. Plasma activation of the implant surface mayreduce implant-induced contraction, for example by improving adhesion tothe implant of antimicrobial liquids (such as antibiotics and antisepticliquids) by employing submersion of the implant before implantation.

Notwithstanding the beneficial effects of plasma treatment discussedabove, such beneficial effects of exposure to plasma on implant surfacesare often temporary, and demonstrated improved or enhanced healingdecreases as the time interval between exposure of the implant to plasmaand installing the implant in a body, increases. Such temporaldeterioration often renders an activation of an implant by exposing theimplant to plasma at the manufacturing site useless, because it may notbe possible to ensure using the implant within a short period of timeafter the exposure to plasma, so as to maintain the benefits of suchexposure.

There is thus provided according to an aspect of some embodiments aportable container for handling an implant, comprising a sealedcompartment. The sealed compartment may be made in some embodiment of adielectric material such as plastic or glass. According to someembodiments the sealed compartment may be made substantially of metal.The sealed compartment encloses an ionizable fluid of a pre-definedcomposition. An ionizable fluid stands for a fluid capable of beingexcited to plasma upon the application of a suitable electromagneticfield. According to some embodiment the fluid may be gas, comprising apredefined gaseous composition at a pre-defined pressure. According tosome embodiments the fluid comprises a liquid having a pre-definedcomposition, such as a saline composition at a pre-definedconcentration. The sealed compartment further contains therein at leastone implant configured to be installed in a live subject. In someembodiments the implant may be metallic, typically being made from ahard alloy such as titanium or stainless steel. In some embodiments theimplant may comprise metallic and non-metallic materials such as polymermaterials or ceramics. In some embodiments the implant may be void ofmetal. In some embodiments the implant may comprise or consist ofbiomaterial intended to be used in a transplantation procedure, such asbone graft or other types of tissue or artificial substance used forgrafting, or a combination thereof. The sealed compartment is configuredto be opened by a user, thereby enabling removing the implant from theportable container.

The portable container further comprises at least one electrode made ofan electrical conductive material, electrically associated with anelectric conductor outside the sealed compartment and configured forapplying a plasma generating electric field inside the sealedcompartment.

The portable container is configured to enable storing the implantinside the sealed compartment, shipping the portable container with theimplant being stored therein, and, without breaking the seal of thesealed compartment nor interfering with the pre-defined composition ofthe fluid, generating plasma in the fluid using an electric field,thereby surface-treating the implant. According to an aspect of someembodiments, the portable container may be used to seal the implant inan ionizable medium consisting substantially of the pre-defined fluidinside the sealed compartment of the portable container. Such sealing ofthe implant may be carried out after the manufacturing process of theimplant, optionally at the implant manufacturing site. According to someembodiments such sealing may be carried out prior to storing the implantor prior to shipping the implant or prior to distributing the implant tousers.

The implant may also be sterilized at the implant manufacturing sitebefore disposing into the sealed compartment or after disposing into thesealed compartment (e.g. using gamma radiation). Alternatively oradditionally, the implant may be sterilized by the plasma treatmentinside the sealed compartment according to the teachings herein, priorto use. The implant inside the portable container may then be stored fora few days or a few weeks or for a few months or even for years—and thenmay be taken for use, e.g. in a medical treatment site.

By being portable it is meant that the portable container is configuredand capable of being shipped or transported easily, without damaging theimplant nor the composition of the fluid inside the sealed compartment.For economic reasons, the portable container is configured to belight-weighted and small in size whereas the portable containerdimensions generally correspond to the dimensions of the implantintended to be stored therewith. For example, a portable container for asingle dental implant may have a generally elongated cylindrical shapeof less than 3 cm in diameter and less than 15 cm in length and evenless than 2 cm in diameter and less than 10 cm in length. As anotherexample, a portable container for a breast implant may have the largestdimension as small as 30 cm and even as small as 20 cm.

Prior to use, e.g. when in a medical treatment site, the portablecontainer may be activated for generating plasma within the sealedcompartment and in the vicinity of the implant. For example, theportable container may be electrically associated with a an activationdevice, the activation device being configured and operable forgenerating an electromagnetic (EM) field suitable for exciting plasma inthe sealed compartment. The activation device may include for example anRF generator and an amplifier configured for generating highvoltage—e.g. above 100V or even above 1 KV. The generated RF highvoltage may be supplied to electrodes that generate the plasmaactivating field in the sealed compartment.

Plasma may be generated by turning on the electric circuit, resulting inplasma-treating the implant inside the sealed compartment, therebypreparing the implant for installment. Then the plasma generation may bestopped. If for any reason the sealed compartment is not opened afterthe plasma generation and maintained sealed, plasma generation can berepeated, e.g. by turning on the electric circuit again, as describedabove. After plasma treating the implant is concluded, the sealedcompartment may be opened and the implant may be taken to be installed.

The sealed compartment may include a sealable opening for implantinsertion and extraction which can be sealed after closing. The sealedcompartment may include therein a holder which is configured to hold animplant such as a dental implant or any other type of implant. Theholder may include an electrical conductor electrically connected to theimplant thereby allowing electrical connectivity to the implant. Thesealed compartment may further include a tap so that after an implant isinserted to the sealed compartment, the tap may be used to fill thecompartment with a desired composition of fluid or to evacuate thecompartment, and may afterwards be closed and sealed. In someembodiments, the tap may be a part of the sealable opening.

According to some embodiments, the portable container may further beused for generating plasma inside the sealed compartment, by applying aplasma-generating electromagnetic (EM) field inside the sealedcompartment. Such generation of plasma may be assisted by the electrodeof the portable container which is configured for applying a plasmagenerating electric field inside the sealed compartment. Such generationof plasma may further be adapted for treating surfaces of the implantinside the sealed compartment so as to obtain desired effects on thesurface or to obtain desired surface characteristics or qualities suchas improved wetability, or to improve acceptance of the implant in thebody of the living subject and improve healing according to specifiedcriteria.

Following the plasma generation step, the sealed compartment may beopened and the implant may be removed and taken for use. Opening thesealed compartment may be carried out by any of various techniques. Forexample opening a cover which is configured to be closed (during sealingthe sealed compartment) and opened, or by controllably braking a portionof the sealed compartment, for example in case the sealed compartment isformed as a sealed glass tube. According to some embodiments opening thesealed compartment may be carried out substantially immediatelyfollowing the plasma generation step. According to some embodimentsopening the sealed compartment may be carried out substantiallyimmediately prior to installing the implant in the body of a livingsubject. According to some embodiments generating the plasma and openingthe sealed compartment may be done at the medical treatment site, whereinstalling the implant is to be performed.

To conform to sterility standards related to handling an implant priorto installment in a live subject, plasma activation is performed in anon-sterile environment (e.g. a non-sterile room and using hands andtools that have not necessarily been sterilized). Then the portablecontainer is carried, e.g. using unsterilized tools or hands, intosterile surroundings. The sterile implant may then be removed from thesealed compartment and disposed onto a sterile tray for the use of asurgeon, or directly to the sterile hands of a surgeon or the like.According to some embodiments the portable container may comprise anexternal capsule and an internal capsule contained in the externalcapsule and containing the implant therein. At least one of the externalcapsule and the internal capsule may function as the sealed compartmentaccording the teachings herein. Following plasma treatment, the externalcapsule may be opened for removing the internal capsule with the implanttherefrom. Then, in the sterile environment and using sterile tools andhands, the internal capsule may be opened and the sterile implant may beextracted therefrom to be installed in the patient.

The sealed compartment may be sealed, for maintaining the pressure andcomposition of the fluid there inside. Various levels of sealing arecontemplated. In some embodiments the fluid inside the sealedcompartment may be liquid, e.g. a saline at a pre-defined concentration,and the sealing of the sealed compartment is configured to preventescape of the liquid out from the sealed compartment. In someembodiments the fluid inside the sealed compartment is a gas at apre-defined composition and a pre-defined pressure. For example, thesealed compartment may contain Argon or air at a low pressure, e.g. lessthan 0.02 At or even less than 0.01 At. In some embodiments, retainingthe pressure and composition of the atmosphere inside the sealedcompartment means allowing a variation of no more than 20% or no morethan 10% or no more than 2% or even no more than 1% of the initialpressure inside the sealed compartment. In some embodiments the sealedcompartment may be configured to retain a low pressure at a pre-definedcomposition for a period of more than 5 years.

In some embodiments the sealed compartment may be configured to retainthe atmosphere there inside for a much shorter period than severalyears, e.g. for a period of several days, for example two days. In somesuch embodiments the portable container may be kept inside a sealedpackage during storing, thereby not being directly exposed to roomatmosphere. In some embodiments the portable container may be sealed,e.g. vacuum-sealed, inside a lamination bag, e.g. an aluminum-coatedlamination bag, for storing. The sealed compartment may then bemaintained unexposed to room atmosphere for a possibly long period ofstoring, being exposed to room atmosphere only after tearing thevacuum-sealed bag, prior to use. Following tearing the vacuum-sealed bagthe portable container is taken for plasma treatment of the implant asdescribed above, typically within minutes after opening the sealedpackage (the vacuum-sealed bag), thus the atmosphere inside the sealedcompartment is not impaired.

According to some embodiments the devices, apparatuses and methodsdisclosed herein are suitable for implants intended to be installed inhumans. According to some embodiments the implant may be metallic.According to some embodiments the implant may be substantially made ofone of the following metals, or from alloys comprising one or more ofthe following metals: titanium, stainless still, gold and platinum.According to some embodiments the implant may be a dental implant.

According to some embodiments the portable container further comprisesan electrical circuit electrically associated with the electrode orelectrodes of the portable container. The electrical circuit isconfigured to provide to the electrode electric power suitable forapplying a plasma generating electric field in the sealed compartment.According to some embodiments the electric circuit is configured toconsume energy from a portable electric DC source such as a battery or apack of batteries, thereby being operable as a stand-alone plasmagenerator.

According to some embodiments the portable container may be disposed ina slot of an activation device which is configured to receive theportable container. The activation device may comprise an electricalcircuit which associates electrically with the electrode of the portablecontainer when the portable container is received in the slot. Theelectrical circuit is configured to provide to the electrode orelectrodes of the portable container electric power suitable forapplying a plasma generating electric field in the sealed compartment,when the portable container is disposed in the slot.

Thus, according to some embodiments, the sealed compartment may besealed, with an implant there inside, in a manufacturing site, may bethen stored for a few days or weeks or for months or even for years—andthen may be taken for use. The portable container may be placed in theslot of the activation device, the activation device being operated in amedical treatment site. Plasma may be generated by turning on theelectric circuit, resulting in treating the surface of the implantinside the sealed compartment, thereby preparing the implant forinstalling. Then the portable container may be removed from theactivation device, the sealed compartment may be opened and the implantmay be taken to be installed.

According to a further aspect of some embodiments there is provided anapparatus for plasma treatment of an implant prior to installing theimplant in a living subject. The apparatus comprises an activationdevice, which comprises a slot configured to receive a portablecontainer. The portable container may comprise a sealed compartmentenclosing a fluid, and may further contain therein at least one implantconfigured to be installed in a live subject. The sealed compartment isalso configured to be opened, thereby enabling removing the implant fromthe portable container. The activation device further comprises anelectrical circuit configured to be electrically associated with atleast one electrode and configured to provide to the at least oneelectrode electric power suitable for applying a plasma generatingelectric field in the sealed compartment, when the portable container isdisposed in the slot.

Gaseous composition inside the container may be at atmospheric pressure(about 100 KPa), at a pressure lower than atmosphere or a pressurehigher than atmosphere. For example, the gas can be at a pressure of 0.8KPa for facilitation of plasma ignition. Helium gas will ignite in adistance of 1 cm between electrodes at an RF field (between 1 MHz and 15MHz) of about 7 KV in atmospheric pressure and at a voltage of about200V in 0.8 KPa.

According to some embodiments a dielectric breakdown discharge (DBD)mode of operation may be used to excite the plasma. According to someembodiments plasma may be excited by an electromagnetic (EM) fieldgenerated between at least two electrodes. According to some embodimentsthe EM field may be generated at a frequency above 10 KHz. According tosome embodiments the field may have a radio frequency (RF) in the rangebetween 0.1 MHz and 20 MHz, for example at 500 KHz. According to someembodiments the field may be in the VHF range, e.g. between 20 MHz and300 MHz. According to some embodiments the field may be in the UHFrange, e.g. between 300 MHz and 3 GHz. According to some embodiments thefield may be in the microwave SHF range, e.g. between 3 GHz and 30 GHz.According to some embodiments the field may be in the microwave EHFrange, e.g. between 30 GHz and 300 GHz. According to some embodimentsthe portable container is configured to allow plasma excitation atvoltages lower than 10 KV.

The terms plasma generation, plasma activation, plasma maintaining andplasma inducing may be used herein interchangeably, refereeing generallyto the process of sufficiently ionizing the fluid inside the sealedcompartment using a suitable EM Field to establish a plasma state (e.gsuch as a glow discharge) of the fluid. The term plasma ignition refersmore specifically to the first instant of plasma generation.

Two conductors are said herein to be electrically isolated orelectrically disconnected if there is no Ohmic (DC) electricalconductance between the conductors.

This invention provides a portable container having an artificialimplant or biomaterial such as bone graft sealed in a sealed compartmenttherein, being immersed in an ionizable fluid having a pre-definedcomposition configured for plasma activation by an EM field.

This invention provides a portable container containing the implant asdescribed above, the portable container being configured fortransportation, shipping and storing without breaking the seal of thesealed compartment and without interfering with the composition of thefluid therein.

This invention provides a portable container containing the implant asdescribed above, the portable container being further configured forplasma activation of the fluid in the sealed compartment after suchtransportation or shipping or storing, without breaking the seal of thesealed compartment and without interfering with the composition of thefluid therein.

This invention provides a portable container configured as a “plug andplay” article, enabling plasma-treating the implant stored there insideat a medical treatment site just prior to using the implant, bydisposing the portable container in a slot of a plasma activation deviceand turning on the plasma activation device.

This invention provides a portable container which can be used forstoring an implant after manufacturing, possibly for a period of severalmonths or several years, transporting the implant to a medical treatmentsite, plasma-treating the implant inside the sealed compartment of theportable container at the medical treatment site for a duration ofseveral seconds or several minutes, and taking the implant for usesubstantially immediately after the plasma treatment.

This invention provides a portable container which can be used forenabling and supporting a significant increase of quality and successrates of medical procedures involving installment, implantation,emplacement and grafting of artificial implants and biomaterial such asbone graft. This invention separately provides an apparatus including aportable container such as described above and an activation devicesuitable for activating plasma in the sealed compartment of the portablecontainer.

This invention separately provides a method of handling an implant, themethod enables for plasma-treating an implant just prior to a medicalprocedure, e.g. in a medical treatment site, using a simple plasmaactivation device that has no pumping or other fluid transportationcapabilities, thereby enabling and supporting a significant increase ofquality and success rates of medical procedures involving installment,implantation, emplacement and grafting of artificial implants andbiomaterial such as bone graft.

Certain embodiments of the present invention may include some, all, ornone of the above advantages. Further advantages may be readily apparentto those skilled in the art from the figures, descriptions, and claimsincluded herein. Aspects and embodiments of the invention are furtherdescribed in the specification hereinbelow and in the appended claims.

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used hereinhave the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill inthe art to which this invention pertains. In case of conflict, thepatent specification, including definitions, governs. As used herein,the indefinite articles “a” and “an” mean “at least one” or “one ormore” unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Some embodiments of the invention are described herein with reference tothe accompanying figures. The description, together with the figures,makes apparent to a person having ordinary skill in the art how someembodiments of the invention may be practiced. The figures are for thepurpose of illustrative discussion and no attempt is made to showstructural details of an embodiment in more detail than is necessary fora fundamental understanding of the invention. For the sake of clarity,some objects depicted in the figures are not to scale.

In the Figures:

FIG. 1A schematically depicts an embodiment of a portable container forhandling an artificial implant, according to the teachings herein;

FIG. 1B schematically depicts an embodiment of the portable container ofFIG. 1A, used for handling biomaterial, according to the teachingsherein;

FIG. 2A schematically depicts an embodiment of another portablecontainer for handling an artificial implant, according to the teachingsherein;

FIG. 2B schematically depicts an embodiment of the portable container ofFIG. 2A, used for handling biomaterial, according to the teachingsherein;

FIG. 3A schematically depicts an embodiment of a canister, made of adielectric material, for storing and plasma treating biomaterial insidea portable container of the invention;

FIG. 3B schematically depicts an embodiment of a canister, made of adielectric material and having a metal segment, for storing and plasmatreating biomaterial inside a portable container of the invention;

FIG. 3C schematically depicts an embodiment of a canister, made of adielectric material and having a metallic cylindrical electrode inside,for storing and plasma treating biomaterial inside a portable containerof the invention;

FIG. 3D schematically depicts an embodiment of a canister, made of adielectric material and having cylindrical shroud, for storing andplasma treating biomaterial inside a portable container of theinvention;

FIG. 4 schematically depicts an embodiment of a portable container forhandling biomaterial such as bone graft;

FIG. 5A schematically depicts an embodiment of an apparatus for plasmatreatment of an implant prior to installing the implant in a livesubject;

FIG. 5B schematically depicts an embodiment of another apparatus forplasma treatment of an implant prior to installing the implant in a livesubject;

FIG. 6A schematically depicts an electrical configuration suitable forplasma generation in a sealed compartment of a portable container,containing an implant;

FIG. 6B schematically depicts another electrical configuration suitablefor plasma generation in a sealed compartment of a portable container,containing an implant;

FIG. 6C schematically depicts yet another electrical configurationsuitable for plasma generation in a sealed compartment of a portablecontainer, containing an implant;

FIG. 7A schematically depicts an embodiment of a portable containerhaving an internal capsule, an external capsule and a single electrode,for handling and plasma-treating a breast implant;

FIG. 7B schematically depicts an embodiment of a portable containerhaving an internal capsule, an external capsule and a two electrodes,for handling and plasma-treating a breast implant;

FIG. 8A schematically depicts an embodiment of a portable containerhaving an internal capsule and an external capsule for handling andplasma-treating a dental implant, in a semi-exploded view;

FIG. 8B schematically depicts the sealed compartment of the portablecontainer of FIG. 8A, in a closed state in a cross-section view;

FIG. 9A schematically depicts a cross-section of the internal capsule ofthe portable container of FIG. 8A in a semi exploded view, with thedental implant attached to the insertion driver;

FIG. 9B schematically depicts the dental implant and the insertiondriver of FIG. 9A in an exploded view;

FIG. 10 schematically depicts an embodiment of an electric circuit forapplying a plasma activating electromagnetic field in the sealedcompartment of the portable container of FIGS. 8 and 9;

FIG. 11 schematically depicts an embodiment of an RF signal generator,configured to generate an RF signal at frequencies suitable forgenerating plasma in a the sealed compartment of the portable containerof FIGS. 8 and 9;

FIG. 12A schematically depicts an embodiment of an electricalconfiguration comprising a set of electrode pairs, suitable for plasmaactivation in a sealed compartment of a portable container for a breastimplant, and

FIG. 12B schematically depicts the electrical configuration of FIG. 12Atogether with the implant.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS

The principles, uses and implementations of the teachings herein may bebetter understood with reference to the accompanying description andfigures. Upon perusal of the description and figures present herein, oneskilled in the art is able to implement the teachings herein withoutundue effort or experimentation.

FIG. 1A schematically depicts an embodiment of portable container 10 forhandling an artificial implant. Portable container 10 comprises a sealedcompartment 12. According to some embodiments sealed compartment 12 ismade of a dielectric material such as a polymer material or glass.According to some embodiments sealed compartment 12 is made of atransparent material e.g. from Perspex, so as to allow a user to see theplasma glow when plasma is generated therein. According to someembodiments sealed compartment 12 is made of metal. The sealedcompartment encloses a fluid. The fluid composition is configured toallow plasma ignition and plasma maintaining by an electromagnetic fieldas is further explained and described below.

In some embodiments the fluid is a gaseous atmosphere of a pre-definedcomposition of gases at a pre-defined pressure. In embodiments includinggaseous atmosphere inside the sealed compartment the gas composition mayinclude helium, or argon or oxygen or nitrogen or air or combinationthereof. The pressure inside the sealed compartment may be lower thanone atmosphere, e.g. in the range of 0.1-1 Torr, or in the range of 1-10Torr or in the range of 10-100 Torr. In some embodiments the pressure inthe sealed compartment may be about one atmosphere. In some embodimentsthe pressure in the sealed compartment may be higher than oneatmosphere. Typically, the gas composition, the gas pressure and the EMfield employed to generate plasma inside the sealed compartment areinterdependent factors selected so as to enable plasma generation in adesired mode of operation.

In some embodiment the fluid consists substantially of liquid. Inembodiments including liquid inside the sealed compartment the liquidcomposition may include water or saline or other liquid and may includesurface treatment additives or wound healing or bone growth factors suchas factor-beta, acidic and basic fibroblast growth factor,platelet-derived growth factor, and bone morphogenetic proteinsubstances to be deposited on the implant.

Sealed compartment 12 further contains an implant 14 configured to beinstalled in a live subject. The implant is held fixedly inside thesealed compartment by holders 16, configured to hold the implantsteadily while covering only a small surface area of the implant,thereby enabling exposure to plasma to a relatively large portion of theimplant surface. In some embodiments the implant inside the sealedcompartment may be attached to a part which is not intended to beinstalled together with the implant, such as an insertion driver in adental implant. In some embodiments, the implant is held in the sealedcompartment by the insertion driver or by any other such part attachedthereto. According to some embodiments implant 14 may include metallicparts or metallic surfaces or may otherwise have electrically conductiveparts, thereby being suitable to be used as one of the plasma generatingelectrodes inside sealed compartment 12.

Sealed compartment 12 comprises a cover 18 which is sealingly closedwhen the sealed compartment is sealed, and is configured to be opened bya user, thereby enabling removing the implant from the portablecontainer.

The portable container further comprises a first electrode 26. Firstelectrode 26 comprises an electrode conductor 28 wound around acylindrical core 30 made of a dielectric, non-magnetic material,electrode conductor 28 having both ends electrically interconnected.First electrode 26 is disposed inside the sealed compartment,substantially surrounding the implant. Electrode conductor 28 iselectrically connected to an electric conductor 32 such as an electricwire which extends through a wall 34 of the sealed compartment e.g. viaa sealed feed-though 36 a, and is electrically connected to a firstcontact 38 a. First contact 38 a is located outside sealed compartment12, on an external surface of the sealed compartment, being therebyaccessible for electrical connection from outside the sealedcompartment.

The portable container optionally comprises a second contact 38 b on theexternal surface of the sealed compartment, being electrically connectedto a second electric conductor 40 extending through wall 34 of thesealed compartment, e.g. via a sealed feed through 36 b. Second electricconductor 40 may in some embodiments be electrically contacted toimplant 14, the implant may thereby be employed as a second electrode42. According to some embodiments, second electric conductor comprises acontacting surface (not shown in this Figure) configured to contactimplant 14 when implant 14 is suitably positioned inside sealedcompartment 12. By applying a suitable electric field between firstelectrode 26 and second electrode 42, plasma may be generated withinsealed compartment 12, in surroundings adjoining implant 14.

According to some embodiments portable container 10 does not include asecond electrode, being void of, e.g. second contact 38 b and secondconductor 40. According to some embodiments implant 14 is electricallydisconnected from a power source. According to some embodiments plasmais generated in sealed compartment 12 using only a single electrode,that is to say first electrode 26, in an Inductive Coupled Plasma (ICP)mode of operation.

In some embodiments the electric conductors 32 and 40 between firstelectric contact 38 a and first electrode 26, and between secondelectric contact 42 b and the implant, respectively, are insulated toavoid arcing. According to some embodiments electrode conductor 28 isinsulated to avoid arcing. According to some embodiments electrodeconductor 28 is insulated to generate plasma in a dielectric breakdowndischarge (DBD) mode of operation. According to some embodimentselectrode conductor 28 is not insulated, at least along a portionthereof, thereby being configured for generating plasma substantially inan arcing or corona discharge or in a Capacitively Coupled Plasma (CCP)mode of operation.

Plasma may be generated inside sealed compartment 12 by applying aradio-frequency (RF) electromagnetic (EM) field at a suitable magnitudebetween the first electrode 26 and the second electrode 42, namely theimplant 14, for example by supplying an RF voltage substantially betweenelectric contact 38 a and electric contact 38 b as is known in the artand is further described and detailed herein below.

According to some embodiments implant 14 may be electricallynon-conductive, namely made of a dielectric material such asnon-conductive polymer or ceramic. According to some such embodimentssecond conductor 40 may function as an electrode or may be connected orotherwise be electrically associated with an electrode. For examplesecond electric conductor 40 may be connected to a small metal segmentsuch as a metal plate (not shown in this Figure) positioned underneaththe implant. According to some such embodiments, plasma may be generatedupon the application of a plasma-generating EM field, in the regionsubstantially between the electrodes and around the implant.

FIG. 1B schematically depicts an embodiment of portable container 10used for handling, storing, shipping and plasma treating biomaterial.Sealed compartment 12 in FIG. 1B contains a canister 44 comprisingbiomaterial therein. The canister is held fixedly inside the sealedcompartment by holders 16, configured to hold the canister steadily.Canister 44 may be made of a dielectric material. According to someembodiments a contacting surface of second electric conductor 40 (suchas an electrically exposed end of the conductor) is employed as secondelectrode 42, so that plasma may be generated in a space between thefirst electrode 26 and the second electrode 42, including in a spaceinside canister 44. According to some embodiments, canister 44 mayfurther comprise a metal segment 46, being in electrical contact withsecond electric conductor 40 when canister 44 is suitably positionedinside sealed compartment 12. According to some embodiments, the metalsegment 46 may extend between the outside of canister 44 to the insidethereof. According to some embodiments, metal segment 46 may have ashape of an elongated rod extending inside canister 44 and through thebottom thereof, being thereby configured to be employed as secondelectrode 42 inside canister 44. According to some embodiments theelongated rod inside canister 44 is electrically isolated in the portionthereof inside the canister, thereby being electrically isolated fromthe biomaterial therein. According to some embodiments the elongated rodis not insulated inside the canister.

FIG. 2A schematically depicts an embodiment of a portable container 50for handling an implant. Portable container 50 comprises a sealedcompartment 52. Portable container 50 is different from portablecontainer 10 in that plasma is generated in sealed compartment 52between two electrodes wherein one of the electrodes is inside thesealed compartment and one electrode is outside the sealed compartment.Similarly to sealed compartment 12, sealed compartment 52 may be made ofa dielectric material such as a polymer material or glass and/or of atransparent material such as Perspex. The sealed compartment encloses afluid, the composition of which is configured to allow plasma ignitionand plasma maintaining by an electromagnetic field as is furtherexplained and described below. The fluid in sealed compartment 52 may begaseous or liquid, substantially similarly to the fluid in sealedcompartment 12.

Sealed compartment 52 contains an implant 14 configured to be installedin a live subject. The implant may be held fixedly inside the sealedcompartment so that only surface area of the implant which is notintended to be subject to plasma treatment is concealed. For example,the implant inside the sealed compartment may be attached to a partwhich is not intended to be installed together with the implant, such asan insertion driver in a dental implant, whereas the area of the dentalimplant contacting the insertion driver is not intended to integratewith the live body the implant is installed in. In some embodiments, theimplant is held in the sealed compartment by the insertion driver or byany other such part attached thereto. According to some embodimentsimplant 14 may include metallic parts or metallic surfaces or mayotherwise have electrically conductive parts, thereby being suitable tobe used as the plasma generating electrode inside sealed compartment 52.

Portable container 50 further comprises a first electrode 60. Firstelectrode 60 comprises a cylindrical ring 62 enveloping sealedcompartment 52 and facing implant 14. Cylindrical ring 62 is positionedon an external surface of the sealed compartment, being therebyelectrically insulated by a sealed compartment wall 64 from the fluidinside the sealed compartment. First electrode 60 is electricallyconnected via an electric conductor 66 such as an electric wire, to afirst contact 68 a on the external surface of the sealed compartment.

Portable container 50 further comprises a second contact 68 b on theexternal surface of the sealed compartment, electrically connected to asecond electric conductor 70 extending through wall 64 of the sealedcompartment, e.g. via a sealed feed through 74. Second electricconductor 70 is electrically connected to implant 14, the implant beingthereby adapted to be employed as a second electrode 72. According tosome embodiments, second electric conductor 70 comprises a contactingsurface (not shown in this Figure) configured to contact implant 14 whenimplant 14 is suitably positioned inside sealed compartment 52. Byapplying a suitable electric field between first electrode 60 and secondelectrode 72, plasma may be generated within sealed compartment 12, inan immediate surroundings of implant 14.

By applying a suitable electric field between first electrode 60 andsecond electrode 72, plasma may be generated within sealed compartment52. According to some embodiments plasma may be generated inside sealedcompartment 52 by applying a DC field at a suitable magnitude betweenthe first electrode 60 and the second electrode 72, namely the implant14, for example by supplying a DC voltage substantially between electriccontact 68 a and electric contact 68 b. According to some embodimentsplasma may be generated inside sealed compartment 52 by applying an ACfield such as a radio-frequency (RF) electromagnetic (EM) field at asuitable magnitude between the first electrode 60 and the secondelectrode 72, namely the implant 14, for example by supplying an RFvoltage substantially between electric contact 68 a and electric contact68 b as is known in the art and is further described and detailed hereinbelow.

In some embodiments the electric conductors 66 and 70 between firstelectric contact 68 a and first electrode 60, and between secondelectric contact 68 b and the implant, respectively, are insulated.According to some embodiments the first electrode 60 is separated andelectrically insulated from the plasma generation region inside sealedcompartment 52 by wall 64 of sealed compartment 52, thereby allowingplasma generation in a DBD mode of operation. According to someembodiments first electrode 60 is disposed inside the sealedcompartment, at least along a portion thereof, thereby having electriccontact with the fluid inside sealed compartment 52 and being therebyconfigured for generating plasma substantially in an arcing or coronadischarge or in a Capacitively Coupled Plasma (CCP) mode of operation.

Portable container 50 may be used for handing, shipping, storing andplasma-treating biomaterial such as bone graft, rather than an implant,as discussed above. Examples of biomaterial may include bone graft usedduring a bone grafting procedure, polymers and textile-based polymers inparticular, hernia mesh, used in a hernia repair procedure, or collagenmembrane used in dental surgery procedures. Such biomaterial may beprovided in various forms and appearances such as powder, crushedgranules, putty, chips, gel and paste. When provided as a dry powder,granulates or chips, gaseous atmosphere may be preferred as an ionizablemedium surrounding the biomaterial, to enhance the effect of surfacetreatment to each individual particulate. According to some embodimentsbone graft powder, granulates or chips may be immersed in inonizableliquid and plasma-treated therein, optionally followed with a dryingstep carried out after the plasma treatment. Dry biomaterial, liquid,gel or paste may be disposed directly in sealed compartment 52, whereasimplant 14 is replaced by second electrode 72 made of an electricallyconducting material, having a shape of e.g. a cylinder positioned alongthe central axis of sealed compartment 52 and electrically connected tosecond conductor 70. Biomaterial inside sealed compartment 52 may thusbe subject to plasma treatment as plasma is generated inside sealedcompartment 52 substantially between first electrode 60 and secondelectrode 72.

FIG. 2B schematically depicts an embodiment of portable container 50used for handling, storing, shipping and plasma treating biomaterial.Sealed compartment 52 in FIG. 2B contains canister 44 comprisingbiomaterial therein. According to some embodiments a contacting surfaceof second electric conductor 70 (such as an electrically exposed end ofelectric conductor 70) is employed as second electrode 72, so thatplasma may be generated in a space between the first electrode 60 andthe second electrode 72, including in a space inside canister 44.According to some embodiments, canister 44 may further comprise a metalsegment 46, being in electrical contact with second electric conductor70 when canister 44 is suitably positioned inside sealed compartment 52.According to some embodiments, the metal segment 46 may extend betweenthe outside of canister 44 to the inside thereof. According to someembodiments, metal segment 46 may have a shape of an elongated rodextending inside canister 44 and through the bottom thereof, beingthereby configured to be employed as second electrode 42 inside canister44. According to some embodiments plasma may be generated between firstelectrode 60 and elongated rod 46 of canister 44, e.g. inside canister44 and in a surroundings adjoining the biomaterial therein.

FIGS. 3A-3D depict schematically four different embodiments of acanister for storing and plasma treating biomaterial inside a portablecontainer of the invention, e.g. the portable container of FIG. 1B orthe portable container of FIG. 2B. FIG. 3A depicts an exploded view of acanister 44 a, and a portion of a sealed compartment of the inventionaccording to the teachings herein. Canister 44 a is made substantiallyof a dielectric material and is configured to be supported inside asealed compartment, e.g. sealed compartment 12 or sealed compartment 52,substantially similarly to canister 44. The portable container comprisesa second electric conductor 80, electrically coupled to a secondelectrode 82, whereas canister 44 a is configured to be supported insidethe sealed compartment adjacent to the second electrode 82. Uponemploying a plasma-generating EM field plasma may be generated in aspace between a first electrode (not shown in this Figure) and thesecond electrode 82, including in a space within canister 44 a.

FIG. 3B depicts an exploded view of a canister 44 b, according to theteachings herein. Canister 44 b is made substantially of a dielectricmaterial and further comprises a metal segment 84, having a shape of adisk, extending between the outside and the inside of the canister in abottom side thereof. When canister 44 b is supported inside a portablecontainer of the invention metal segment 84 is electrically coupled to asecond electric conductor 80, thereby being configured to be employed asa second electrode 82. Accordingly, plasma may be generated uponemploying a plasma-generating EM field between a first electrode (notshown in this Figure) and the second electrode 82, including withincanister 44 b. Metal segment 84 may in some embodiments be insulated bya dielectric layer on a portion thereof inside canister 44 b, therebybeing insulated from the biomaterial stored in the canister.

FIG. 3C depicts an exploded view of a canister 44 c, according to theteachings herein. Canister 44 c is made substantially of a dielectricmaterial and further comprises a metal segment 84, having a shape of arod 86, extending from the outside of the bottom of the canister to theinside and along the canister. When canister 44 c is supported inside aportable container of the invention, rod 86 is electrically coupled tothe second electric conductor 80, thereby being configured to beemployed as a second electrode 82. Accordingly, plasma may be generatedupon employing a plasma-generating EM field between a first electrode(not shown in this Figure) and the rod 86, including within thecanister. Rod 86 may in some embodiments be insulated by a dielectriclayer on a portion thereof inside canister 44 c, thereby being insulatedfrom the biomaterial stored therein.

FIG. 3D depicts an exploded view of a canister 44 d, and a portion of aportable container of the invention according to the teachings herein.Canister 44 d is made substantially of a dielectric material and isconfigured to be supported inside a portable container, e.g. portablecontainer 10 or portable container 50, substantially similarly tocanister 44. The portable container comprises a second electricconductor 80, extending into a second electrode 82 having a shape of anelongated rod 88. Canister 44 d comprises a shroud 90 positioned anddimensioned to house rod 88 when canister 44 d is suitably supportedinside the portable container. Upon employing a plasma-generating EMfield plasma may be generated in a space between a first electrode (notshown in this Figure) and the second electrode 82, including in a spacewithin canister 44 d.

According to some embodiments, canisters of the invention (such ascanisters 44, 44 a, 44 b, 44 c and 44 d) may be sealed. According tosome embodiments, sealed canisters may contain biomaterial immersed in afluid adapted to be ionized and excited to plasma when subject to asuitable electromagnetic field, substantially as described above. Thefluid in the sealed canister may be a liquid at a pre-definedcomposition or a gas at a pre-defined composition and a pre-definedpressure, as described above for the fluid inside the sealedcompartments of the invention. According to some embodiments a sealedcanister contained in a sealed compartment may contain an ionizablefluid such as a low pressure gaseous composition, whereas the spaceoutside the sealed canister may not be suitable for plasma generation.In other words, in some embodiments the sealed compartment contains onlyin a portion thereof, i.e., inside the sealed canister, fluid configuredto be excited to plasma when subject to a plasma-generating EM field,whereas plasma may be generated in other portions of the sealedcompartment.

FIG. 4 schematically depicts an embodiment of portable container 100 forhandling biomaterial such as bone graft. Portable container 100comprises a sealed compartment 102. Sealed compartment 102 is shaped asa cylindrical ring, being confined by an external cylinder 104 and aninternal cylinder 106. According to some embodiments sealed compartment102 is made of a dielectric material such as a polymer material, plasticor glass. According to some embodiments sealed compartment 102 maycomprise metallic parts. According to some embodiments sealedcompartment 102 may be transparent, e.g. from Perspex, at least in partsthereof, so as to allow a user see the plasma glow when plasma isgenerated therein.

The sealed compartment encloses a fluid. The fluid composition isconfigured to allow plasma ignition and plasma maintaining by anelectromagnetic field as is further explained and described below. Thefluid inside sealed compartment 102 may be gaseous or liquid,substantially as described above concerning the fluid inside sealedcompartment 12 and sealed compartment 52. In embodiments includingliquid inside the sealed compartment the liquid composition may includewater or saline or other liquid and may include surface treatmentadditives or wound healing or bone growth factors such as factor-beta,acidic and basic fibroblast growth factor, platelet-derived growthfactor, and bone morphogenetic protein substances.

The sealed compartment further contains biomaterial 110 such as bonegraft, disposed between the external cylinder and the internal cylinder.Biomaterial 110 may be in a form of powder, crushed granules, putty,chips, gel and paste.

Sealed compartment 102 comprises a cover 114 which is sealingly closedwhen the sealed compartment is sealed, and is configured to be opened bya user, thereby enabling removing the biomaterial from the portablecontainer.

Portable container 100 further comprises a first electrode 120. Firstelectrode 120 comprises an elongated rod extending concentrically alongthe axis of internal cylinder 106. First electrode 120 is electricallyconnected to a first electric contact 122 a via an electric conductor124. Portable container 100 further comprises a second electrode 130,electrically connected to a second electric contact 122 b via anelectric conductor 134. First electric contact 122 a and second electriccontact 122 b are located on an external surface of the sealedcompartment, i.e. on the external surface of external cylinder 104,thereby being accessible for contact from the outside of sealedcompartment 102.

Plasma may be generated inside sealed compartment 102 by applying aradio-frequency (RF) electromagnetic (EM) field at a suitable magnitudebetween first electrode 120 and second electrodes 130, for example bysupplying an RF voltage substantially between electric contact 122 a andelectric contact 122 b as is known in the art. According to someembodiments electrodes 120 and 130 may generate plasma inside sealedcompartment 102 substantially in a dielectric breakdown discharge (DBD)mode of operation. It is noted that by disposing biomaterial 110 such asbone graft in sealed compartment 102 having a cylindrical ring shape, alarge surface area of the biomaterial is exposed to plasma (compared toan exposed amount of biomaterial when disposed in a pile such as insidea plain cylinder). It is further noted that biomaterial 110 is disposedsubstantially between first electrode 120 and second electrodes 130, sothat RF current flows near or around the biomaterial particles or inbetween the particles, thereby enhancing the effects on the biomaterialwhen plasma is activated.

For plasma generation, the portable container of the invention may bedisposed in a slot of an activation device configured to generateelectric power suitable to generate plasma in the sealed compartment ofthe portable container, as is further described and explained below.

FIG. 5A depicts an embodiment of an apparatus 200 for plasma treatmentof an implant, (implant—including an artificial implant, graft orbiomaterial) prior to installing the implant in a live subject.Apparatus 200 comprises an activation device 210. The activation devicecomprises a slot 220 configured to receive a portable container 230.Portable container 230 comprises a sealed compartment 232 according tothe teachings herein. According to some embodiments the sealedcompartment contains therein a canister 234 comprising biomaterialintended to be plasma treated and then installed or used in a livesubject. According to some embodiments sealed compartment 232 maycontain an artificial implant 236 as depicted schematically in FIG. 5B.The sealed compartment is configured to be opened, thereby enablingremoving the implant (artificial implant or graft) from the portablecontainer when desired. Portable container 230 may comprise an electrodeor electrodes configured to apply a plasma-generating EM field whencoupled to a suitable EM power source, as described above for portablecontainers 10, 50 and 100. According to some embodiments portablecontainer 230 does not include electrodes and plasma is generated insealed compartment 232 thereof using external electrodes, as describedherein.

Slot 220 comprises two flexible clips 240 a and 240 b positioned opposedto one another being thereby configured to hold a portable container inbetween them. According to some embodiments, flexible clips 240 a and240 b are electrically conductive. According to some embodiments,flexible clips 240 a and 240 b are conductive and coated by aninsulating layer to prevent burns or an electric shock to the user.According to some embodiments flexible clips 240 a and 240 b areelectrically coupled with electric contacts on the portable container,such as electric contacts 38 a and 38 b of portable container 10.According to some embodiments the flexible clips contact electricallythe electric contacts of the portable container. According to someembodiments the flexible clips are capacitively coupled to the electriccontacts of the portable container

Apparatus 200 further comprises an electrical circuit 250. Theelectrical circuit comprises an electric power source 260 configured tocontrollably generate an electric power (voltage and current) at aselected magnitude and frequency. The electrical circuit may receiveenergy from an energy source—according to some embodiments from a walloutlet through a cord 270 or according to some embodiments from aportable energy source such as an electrical battery that may beincluded in apparatus 200. The power source is electrically associatedwith the flexible clips for delivering electric power at a desiredmagnitude and frequency to the flexible clips for generating plasma in asealed compartment of an attached portable container.

According to some embodiments the activation device may apply, when theportable container is disposed inside the slot, a plasma-generatingelectric field inside the sealed compartment of the portable container,by applying a suitable voltage between clips 240 a and 240 b. In someembodiments, the clips function as electrodes, configured to apply adesired field inside the sealed compartment. According to someembodiments the electrical power source of the electrical circuit is aDirect Current (DC) source, applying a DC field inside the sealedcompartment. In some embodiments the electrical power source is anAlternating Current (AC) source, thereby applying an AC field inside thesealed compartment. In some embodiments the AC source generates aradio-frequency (RF) signal, for example within the range of 1 MHz and20 MHz. According to some embodiments the portable container is similarto the portable containers of FIG. 1A or 1B or 2A or 2B or 3, in havingelectrodes configured for plasma generation inside the sealedcompartment wherein the electrodes are electrically associated withelectric contacts outside the sealed compartment. According to someembodiments the activation device may generate plasma in a portablecontainer having such electrical contacts outside the sealed compartmentby providing electric power to the electrodes inside the sealedcompartment through the electrical contacts. For example, when portablecontainer 10 is suitably placed inside slot 220, clips 240 a and 240 bfunction as electric contacts, contacting, respectively, electriccontacts 38 a and 38 b of portable container 10. In operation electricpower is provided from electric power source 260 through electriccontacts 240 a and 240 b and through electric contacts 38 a and 38 b, toelectrodes 26 and 42 inside the sealed compartment, thereby enablingplasma generation therein.

According to some embodiments, apparatus 200 may comprise portablecontainer 230.

FIG. 5B schematically depicts an embodiment of an apparatus 300 forplasma treatment of an implant (including artificial implant or graft orbiomaterial) prior to installing the implant in a live subject. Usingapparatus 300, plasma may be generated inside a sealed compartment of aportable container by inducing an EM field, e.g. in an inductive coupledplasma—ICP mode, from the outside of the sealed compartment. Apparatus300 comprises an activation device 310. The activation device comprisesa slot 340 configured to receive a portable container 230. The slot 340comprises a chamber 342 configured to receive a portable containertherein.

Activation device 310 further comprises an electrical circuit 350. Theelectrical circuit comprises an electric power source 360 configured tocontrollably generate an AC electric power (voltage and current) at aselected magnitude and frequency. The electrical circuit may receiveenergy from an energy source—according to some embodiments from a walloutlet or according to some embodiments from a portable energy sourcesuch as an electrical battery. The electrical circuit is configured todrive an AC current through an electrode 380 electrically associatedwith power source 360. Electrode 380 is shaped as a coil wound aroundchamber 342 thereby being wound around the sealed compartment of aportable container disposed in chamber 342. According to someembodiments, plasma may be induced in the sealed compartment of aportable container disposed in chamber 342 in ICP mode. According tosome embodiments, apparatus 300 may comprise portable container 230.

FIG. 6A schematically depicts an electrical configuration 400 suitablefor plasma generation in a sealed compartment 410 containing an implant416 (an artificial implant or a canister which contains biomaterialinside) of a portable container 420. An RF source 430 supplies an RFsignal at a suitable magnitude and a suitable frequency for generatingplasma in the sealed compartment to an electrode 440 shaped as anelongated conductor wound around the sealed compartment. The implant, ora metal segment in a canister containing biomaterial, may optionally beelectrically grounded through a ground electrode 450. According to someembodiments the implant 416 is electrically floating, that is to saybeing electrically disconnected from a power source, and plasma isinduced in sealed compartment 410 using only electrode 440 in an ICPmode of operation. According to some embodiments the implant 416 isdielectric. According to some embodiments implant 416 comprises metallicparts and dielectric parts, and the implant is supported in sealedcompartment 410 so that ground electrode 450 contacts a dielectric partof the implant, and not a metallic part. According to some embodimentsboth ends of the conductor of electrode 440 are electrically connectedto contact 460 a.

According to some embodiments the RF source may be comprised in theportable container 420, rendering the portable container configured forplasma generation (inside the sealed compartment) upon receiving energyfrom an energy source such as a wall outlet or a portable source such asa battery. According to some embodiments the RF source may be comprisedin an activation device (not shown in this Figure) generally separatedfrom the portable container such as activation device 210 or activationdevice 310. In some embodiments electrode 440 may be wound around achamber configured to receive portable container 420, as is described inFIG. 5B above. Contacts 450 a (on portable container 420) and 450 b (onthe activation device) contact each other when the portable container isdisposed in the slot of the activation device, thereby electricallygrounding the implant. According to some embodiments the portablecontainer comprises electrode 440 being wound around the sealedcompartment thereof, and contacts 460 a (on portable container 420) and460 b (on the activation device) also contact each other when theportable container is disposed in the slot of the activation device,thereby enabling providing plasma generating EM signal from the RFsource to electrode 440.

FIG. 6B schematically depicts an electrical configuration 500 suitablefor plasma generation in a sealed compartment 510 containing an implant416 (e.g. an artificial implant or a canister which contains biomaterialinside) of a portable container 520. Plasma generation in electricalconfiguration 500 is achieved using a first electrode 540 shaped as anelongated conductor wound around the sealed compartment, and a secondelectrode 550 shaped as an elongated conductor wound around the sealedcompartment. First electrode 540 receives a first voltage, typicallyfrom a power source 530, and second electrode 550 receives a secondvoltage, different from the first voltage, and is typically grounded.Plasma may be generated in a Dielectric Barrier Discharge (DBD) mode ofoperation as a dielectric barrier (the walls of the sealed compartment)separate between at least one of the electrodes and the region whereplasma is generated. Any of first electrode 540 and second electrode 550may be coated by an insulating material e.g. to prevent arcing betweenthem. Contacts 560 a, 560 b, 570 a and 570 b may function as describedabove to enable the portable container to include the RF source forproviding the plasma-generation EM field according to some embodimentsor alternatively to be electrically associated with an activation devicefor plasma generation.

FIG. 6C schematically depicts an electrical configuration 600 suitablefor plasma generation in a sealed compartment 510 containing an implant416 of a portable container 520. Electrical configuration 600 isdifferent from electrical configuration 500 in that a first electrode640 is wound around the sealed compartment several wounds, and a secondelectrode 650 is wound around the sealed compartment several wounds, andthe wounds of first electrode 640 and second electrode 650 areinterleaved, to generate plasma uniformly. Any of first electrode 640and second electrode 650 may be coated by an insulating material e.g. toprevent arcing between them.

According to an aspect of some embodiments there is provided a portablecontainer for handling an implant, the portable container comprising anexternal capsule and an internal capsule, wherein the internal capsuleis contained within the external capsule. The internal capsule definesan internal compartment, and the internal compartment houses an implanttherein. The internal capsule is microbially sealed, thereby maintainingsterility of the implant. Being “microbially sealed” herein means thatmicrobial organisms may not penetrate into the microbially sealedinternal capsule, wherein microbial organisms may include any form ofviruses, prokaryotic cells or eukaryotic cells, including fungi andbacteria. In some embodiments the internal capsule may be substantiallysealed, thereby substantially preventing penetration or escape of fluidinto or out from the internal capsule, and thereby substantiallymaintaining composition and pressure of a fluid stored inside theinternal capsule. In some embodiments the internal capsule ismicrobially sealed using a suitable filter that allows passage of fluidmolecules therethrough (e.g. gaseous molecules) but prevents passage ofmicrobial organisms therethrough. In some embodiments the internalcapsule may contain a fluid having substantially the same pressure andcomposition as the pressure and composition, respectively, of a fluid inwhich the internal capsule is immersed. At least one of the externalcapsule and the internal capsule may function as a sealed compartment ofthe portable container. That is to say, at least one of the externalcapsule and the internal capsule contains a fluid having a pre-definedcomposition and pressure, the fluid being adapted and configured to beionized and excited to plasma when subject to a suitable EM field. Thesealed compartment is sealed from ambient atmosphere, that is to say thesealed compartment is configured to prevent penetration or escape offluid into or out from the sealed compartment, being thereby configuredto maintain composition and pressure of a fluid stored inside the sealedcompartment.

The external capsule is further configured and dimensioned for freelyreleasing the internal capsule when the external capsule is opened.Being configured for freely releasing the internal capsule herein meansthat following opening the external capsule, the internal capsule may beextracted and removed from the opened external capsule without touchingthe internal capsule. For example, the external capsule may have anopening that may be sealed by a cap. A user may open the externalcapsule by removing the cap and then freely releasing the internalcapsule from the external capsule by holding the external capsule sothat the opening faces downwards, thereby letting the internal capsulefall down and out from the external capsule through the opening. In someembodiments the internal capsule may be held tight inside the externalcapsule, whereas a releasing mechanism operated by the user may be usedto release the internal capsule from the holding, thereby freelyreleasing the internal capsule from the external capsule.

The internal compartment is configured to enable plasma treatment of theimplant there inside. The internal capsule contains a first ionizablefluid, which is exciteable to plasma when subjected to a suitableexciting electromagnetic field. Various configurations of the internalcapsule and the external capsule, and related composition and pressureof the first ionizable fluid are envisaged, such that plasma excitationmay be obtained within the internal capsule. Some exemplary embodimentsare described in more detail herein below.

For use, according to some embodiments, the portable container may besealed, with the implant there inside, in a manufacturing site, whereinan implant is disposed inside the internal capsule and the internalcapsule, containing an ionizable fluid (liquid or gas) is disposedinside the external capsule. The implant is sealed by at least one ofthe external capsule and the internal capsule, such sealing of theimplant may be carried out after the manufacturing process of theimplant, optionally at the manufacturing site. According to someembodiments such sealing may be carried out prior to storing the implantor prior to shipping the implant or prior to distributing the implant tousers.

The implant may be sterilized at the implant manufacturing site beforedisposing into the internal capsule or after disposing into the internalcapsule (e.g. using gamma radiation). Alternatively or additionally, theimplant may be sterilized by the plasma treatment inside the portablecontainer according to the teachings herein, prior to use. The implantinside the portable container may then be stored for a few days or weeksor for months or even for years—and then may be taken for use. When in amedical treatment site, the portable container may be activated forgenerating plasma at least in the internal capsule. For example, theportable container may be placed in a dedicated slot of an activationdevice, the activation device being configured and operable forgenerating an EM field suitable for exciting plasma in the internalcapsule. The activation device may include for example an RF generatorand an amplifier configured for generating high voltage—e.g. above 100Vor even above 1 KV. The generated RF high voltage may be supplied toelectrodes that generate the plasma activating field in the portablecontainer.

Plasma may be generated by turning on the electric circuit, resulting intreating the implant inside the internal capsule, thereby preparing theimplant for installment. Then plasma generation may be stopped. If forany reason the external capsule is not opened after the plasmageneration, plasma generation can be repeated at a later occasion, e.g.by turning on the electric circuit again, as described above.

The external capsule may be made in some embodiment of a dielectricmaterial such as plastic or glass. According to some embodiments theexternal capsule may comprise a first metallic segment, providingelectric conductance from the outside of the external capsule to theinside thereof. According to some embodiments the external capsule mayinclude a feed through—optionally a sealed feed through—for providingsuch electric conductance from the outside of the external capsule tothe inside thereof. According to some embodiments, a non-conductingimplant may be plasma-treated in a portable container of the invention.For example, an implant made of a dielectric material such as polymermaterial or ceramic, and void of metal, may be plasma treated accordingto the teachings herein. According to some embodiments an implant madeof electrically isolating material may be disposed in the internalcapsule, and a single electrode enveloping the implant may generateplasma e.g. in an ICP mode of operation. According to some embodimentsthe electrode is isolated from the excited medium (the fluid which isexcited to plasma) by an isolative layer. According to some embodimentsthe single electrode may be disposed outside the internal capsule, beingthereby isolated from the inoziable fluid inside the internal capsule bythe internal capsule itself. According to some embodiments twoelectrodes may be employed to induce a plasma generating EM in a regionsubstantially between the electrodes. According to some embodiments twoelectrodes, isolated from the ionizable fluid in which the implant isimmersed may be employed to induce a plasma generating EM field, e.g. ina DBD mode of operation. According to some embodiments the twoelectrodes may be disposed outside the internal capsule, being therebyisolated from the inoziable fluid inside the internal capsule by theinternal capsule itself. According to some embodiments a singleelectrode or two electrodes inside the external capsule may be contactedfrom the outside of the external capsule through metallic segments orfeed-throughs or sealed feed-throughs in the external capsule asdescribed above.

According to some embodiments a metallic segment in the external capsulemay be used as an electrode for generating the plasma activating field,or for contacting such an electrode inside the external capsule. In someembodiments the external capsule may comprise further a second metallicsegment, electrically isolated from the first metallic segment describedabove, the second metallic segment being used as a second electrode forthe plasma generating field. In a particular exemplary embodiment afirst metallic segment of the external capsule may be in electricalcontact with a metallic implant whereas a second metallic segment isformed as a cylinder positioned outside the internal capsule andsubstantially surrounding the implant therein. An EM field (e.g. RFfield) may then be supplied to the two metallic segments, thusgenerating a plasma exciting field between the implant and thecylindrical electrode, in the ionizable medium within the internalcapsule.

The internal capsule may be made from a dielectric material such asplastic or glass. In some embodiments the internal capsule may have ametallic segment for providing electric conductance from the outside ofthe internal capsule to the inside thereof. In some embodiments themetallic segment of the internal capsule may electrically contact ametallic implant in a point or a region of the implant which does notrequire surface treatment by the plasma. In some particular embodiments,the internal capsule may be sealed (or microbially sealed, as describedabove) using a metallic cap having an implant holder on the insidesurface thereof for holding the implant. In some embodiments the implant(e.g. a dental implant) may be mechanically attached to a metallicinsertion driver having a cross section fitting to an opening of theinternal capsule. The internal capsule may be sealed by inserting theimplant to the internal capsule whereas the opening thereof is sealed bythe insertion driver, part of the insertion driver left outside theinternal capsule and used as an electric contact to the implant.

In some embodiments the internal capsule is made of a dielectricmaterial at least in regions thereof facing surfaces of the implantrequiring plasma treatment. In other words, when the implant is used asone of the electrodes for the plasma generating field, the otherelectrode is separated from the implant by a dielectric barrier, forproperly establishing a DBD mode of operation.

Thus, according to some embodiment the fluid in the external capsule maybe configured to be ionized, substantially similarly to the fluid insidethe internal capsule, whereas one electrode of the plasma generatingfield is positioned externally to the external capsule. Accordingly, thefluid in the external capsule may be gas, comprising a predefinedgaseous composition at a pre-defined pressure. According to someembodiments the fluid comprises a liquid having a pre-definedcomposition, such as a saline composition at a pre-definedconcentration. According to other embodiments an electrode is disposedinside the external capsule externally to the internal capsule. Forexample an electrode may be embodied by a metallic coating on theexternal surface of the internal capsule (being electrically isolatedfrom the implant and from any electric conductor which is in electricalcontact with the implant). Plasma is generated in such embodiments onlywithin the internal capsule, and the atmosphere inside the externalcapsule may not need to be ionizable.

FIG. 7A schematically depicts an embodiment of a portable container 700for handling a breast implant 702 according to the teachings herein.Portable container 700 is shaped as a hollow dome and dimensioned tocontain therein a breast implant such as a breast implant made as a softlump such as elastomer silicone shell filled with silicone gel or salinecomposition. Portable container 700 comprises an external capsule 710,schematically depicted in FIG. 7A in a closed state, having a vaultcover 712 on top of a flat base 714. External capsule 710 is configuredto be pivotally opened and closed by lifting and lowering vault cover712 relative to flat base 714 around a pivot 716. Other embodiments,employing different techniques of closing external capsule 710, as areknown in the art—for example screwing vault cover 712 onto flat base714—are contemplated. According to some embodiments external capsule 710may be sealingly closed using a seal 718 between vault cover 712 andflat base 714. When sealingly closed, external capsule 710 is configuredto maintain inside a fluid—liquid or gas—in a predefined composition andpressure, sealed from external atmosphere.

Portable container 700 further comprises a sealed compartment 720,embodied by an internal capsule contained within external capsule 710,schematically depicted in FIG. 7A in a closed state. Sealed compartment720 comprises a compartment vault 722 on top of a compartment base 724.Sealed compartment 720 is configured to be pivotally opened and closedby lifting and lowering compartment vault 722 relative to compartmentbase 724 around a compartment pivot 726. Other embodiments, employingdifferent techniques of closing sealed compartment 720, as are known inthe art—for example screwing compartment vault 722 onto compartment base724—are contemplated. Sealed compartment 720 may be sealingly closed,sealing being achieved using a compartment seal 728 between compartmentvault 722 and compartment base 724. When sealingly closed, sealedcompartment 720 is configured to maintain inside a fluid—liquid orgas—in a predefined composition and pressure, sealed from the fluidoutside of sealed compartment 720. Sealed compartment 720 is optionallysupported and stabilized inside external capsule 710 by bumpers 730positioned between external capsule 710 and sealed compartment 720.

Portable container 700 is configured to enable removing implant 702 fromsealed compartment following a plasma treatment, in a sterilesurrounding, into a sterile tray or sterile hands or a sterile vessel,and while maintaining sterility of the implant. Accordingly, sealedcompartment 720 is dimensioned (when in closed state) so as to insertfreely into external capsule 710 (the external capsule being open), andto release freely therefrom. In other words, sealed compartment 720 maybe disposed inside external capsule 710 and when external capsule 710 isclosed, sealed compartment 720 is held tight, being supported optionallyby bumpers 730. When external capsule 710 is opened, sealed compartment720 may be freely released from external capsule 710, e.g. by turningexternal capsule 710 upside down, thereby causing sealed compartment 720to slide freely downwards and fall down from external capsule 710optionally onto a sterile tray or the like, as explained above withouttouching sealed compartment 720, and thus without endangering thesterility thereof.

Compartment vault 722 and compartment base 724 comprise an envelopingelectrode 740, having a top section 742 on compartment vault 722 and abottom section 744 on compartment base 724, the top section and thebottom section being in electrical contact with one another. Envelopingelectrode 740 is electrically isolated from the fluid inside sealedcompartment 720 by an insulating layer 746. Consequently, plasma may begenerated inside sealed compartment 720 using enveloping electrode 740in DBD mode of operation. RF power for inducing a plasma generating EMfield may be supplied to enveloping electrode 720 using a sealedfeed-through 748 in external capsule 710.

Portable container 700 further comprises an implant support agent 750,disposed between the implant and a compartment internal surface 752.Implant support agent 750 is made of a dielectric material andconfigured to stabilize breast implant 702 in place inside sealedcompartment 720, substantially between compartment vault 722 andcompartment base 724 when sealed compartment 720 is closed. Implantsupport agent 750 is further configured to contact the implant over onlya small portion of the implant surface, thereby leaving a large portionof the implant's surface exposed to plasma treatment. According to someembodiments implant support agent 750 may comprise a sheet or sheets ofan electrically insulating, porous and optionally flexible material suchas a sponge. The size of the pores in the implant support agent 750 areconfigured to be large enough to allow plasma ignition within the poresduring operation, and to be small enough so that the walls between thepores provide effective mechanical support to the implant. According tosome embodiments pores typical dimensions should be smaller than about 2cm and larger than about 1 mm. According to some embodiments implantsupport agent may comprise a wavy or undulating sheet or sheets of anelectrically insulating material. According to some embodiments the wavyor undulating sheet may be shaped to have craters such as in amuffin-tin or an egg-carton. According to some embodiments the cratersmay be punctured. The wavy or undulating sheet may be configured to havetips or ridges along the surface contacting the implant, so as tominimize the portion of the implant surface which is obscured by theimplant support agent, thus not exposed to plasma treatment. Accordingto some embodiments the craters are dimensioned generally similarly tothe pores as described above, having dimensions between about 1 mm andabout 2 cm. Implant support agent 750 may have a uniform thickness thusestablishing a uniform distance between the implant and the electrode,thereby enabling a uniform current density between the electrode and theimplant during plasma activation. According to some embodiments theimplant support agent may have a thickness between about 0.5 mm andabout 2 cm. According to some embodiments the implant support agent mayhave a thickness in the range between about 1 mm and about 1 cm, forexample a thickness of about 2 mm, or a thickness of about 5 mm or athickness of about 8 mm.

The sealed compartment is configured to contain an ionizablefluid—liquid or gas—so that the implant support agent and the implantare immersed therein. The fluid inside the sealed compartment isconfigured to be excited to plasma when subject to a plasma exciting EMfield, as is described in detail above e.g. regarding the sealedcompartments of portable containers 10, 50 and 100. In use, that is tosay, when plasma is excited in the sealed compartment, current flowsbetween enveloping electrode 740 and implant 702 and consequently plasmais excited in the space there between.

FIG. 7B schematically depicts an embodiment of a portable container 800for handling a breast implant 702 according to the teachings herein.Portable container 800 is different from portable container 700 byhaving two electrodes for applying the plasma-activating EM field, as isdescribed below. Portable container 800 is shaped as a hollow dome anddimensioned to contain therein a breast implant as described above.Portable container 800 comprises an external capsule 810, schematicallydepicted in FIG. 7B in a closed state, having a vault cover 812 on topof a base 814. External capsule 810 is configured to be pivotally openedand closed by lifting and lowering vault cover 812 relative to base 814around a pivot 816. Other embodiments, employing different techniques ofclosing external capsule 810, as are known in the art—for examplescrewing vault cover 812 onto base 814—are contemplated. According tosome embodiments external capsule 810 may be sealingly closed using aseal 818 between vault cover 812 and base 814. When sealingly closed,external capsule 810 is configured to maintain inside a fluid—liquid orgas—in a predefined composition and pressure, sealed from externalatmosphere.

Portable container 800 further comprises a sealed compartment 820,embodied by an internal capsule contained within external capsule 810,schematically depicted in FIG. 7B in a closed state. Sealed compartment820 comprises a compartment vault 822 on top of a compartment base 824.Sealed compartment 820 is configured to be pivotally opened and closedby lifting and lowering compartment vault 822 relative to compartmentbase 824 around a compartment pivot 826. Other embodiments, employingdifferent techniques of closing sealed compartment 820, as are known inthe art—for example screwing compartment vault 822 onto compartment base824—are contemplated. Sealed compartment 820 may be sealingly closedusing a compartment seal 828 between compartment vault 822 andcompartment base 824. When sealingly closed, sealed compartment 820 isconfigured to maintain inside a fluid—liquid or gas—in a predefinedcomposition and pressure, sealed from the fluid outside of sealedcompartment 820. Sealed compartment 820 is supported and stabilizedinside external capsule 810 by bumpers 830 positioned between externalcapsule 810 and sealed compartment 820. It is noted that compartmentbase 824 has a rim 832 around the circumference thereof, extendingupwards into the dome portion of sealed compartment 820, andconsequently compartment vault 822 extends over only a segment of thedome portion of the sealed compartment.

Sealed compartment 820—when in a closed state—is configured to insertfreely into external capsule 810, and to release freely therefrom,substantially as explained above regarding portable container 700.

Portable container 800 comprises an electrode pair 840, having a topelectrode 842 extending over compartment vault 822, and a bottomelectrode 844 extending over compartment base 824. Top electrode 842 iselectrically isolated from bottom electrode 844. Isolator 846 extendsalong edges of top electrode 842 and bottom electrode 844 to ensureelectrical isolation between the two electrodes. Top electrode 842 hasan equal are to an area of bottom electrode 844 so that in operation, acurrent density through the two electrodes is the same. Rim 832 is sizedand dimensioned so that the area of bottom electrode 844 is equal to thearea of top electrode 842.

Electrode pair 840 is electrically isolated from the fluid inside sealedcompartment 820 by an insulating layer 848. Consequently, plasma may begenerated inside sealed compartment 820 using Electrode pair 840 in DBDmode of operation. RF power for inducing a plasma generating EM fieldmay be supplied to top electrode 842 and to bottom electrode 844 using afirst sealed feed-through 852 and second sealed feed-through 854,respectively, in external capsule 810.

Portable container 800 further comprises an implant support agent 860,disposed between the implant and a compartment internal surface 862.Implant support agent 860 has substantially similar materials andcharacteristics to those of implant support agent 750

Sealed compartment 820 is configured to contain an ionizablefluid—liquid or gas—so that the implant support agent and the implantare immersed therein. The fluid inside the sealed compartment isconfigured to be excited to plasma when subject to a plasma exciting EMfield, as is described in detail above e.g. regarding the sealedcompartments of portable containers 10, 50, 100 and 700. In use, that isto say when plasma is excited in the sealed compartment, current flowsbetween top electrode 842 and implant 802 and between implant 802 andbottom electrode 844, and consequently plasma is excited in the spacethere between.

FIG. 8A schematically depicts an embodiment of a portable container 1000for handling a dental implant, in a semi-exploded view. Portablecontainer 1000 comprises a sealed compartment 1010, depicted in a closedstate in a cross-section view in FIG. 8B. Sealed compartment 1010comprises an external capsule 1020 having a shape of an elongated hollowvessel having an opening 1030 at a top end 1032 thereof and a bottom end1034 thereof being closed and sealed. In some embodiments externalcapsule 1020 is made of a dielectric material, possibly transparent,such as a polymeric material (e.g. Perspex®) or glass.

External capsule 1020 has a narrow bottom part 1040 and a wide top part1042, the narrow part 1040 and the wide part 1042 being separated by adividing shoulder 1046. Dividing shoulder 1046 defines a plasmaexcitation region 1050 within narrow bottom part 1040, as is furtherdetailed and explained below.

Sealed compartment 1010 further comprises a metallic cap 1060 configuredand dimensioned to insert into opening 1030 thereby sealing sealedcompartment 1010. Cap 1060 comprises a seal 1062 configured to fit to aninternal surface 1070 of external capsule 1020 proximal to opening 1030,thereby sealing sealed compartment 1010 when cap 1060 is suitablyinserted through opening 1030 to external capsule 1020. According tosome embodiments seal 1062 may be embodied by an O-ring made for exampleof rubber. According to some embodiments metallic cap 1060 and externalcapsule 1020 near opening 1030 may be threaded, and metallic cap 1060may insert into opening 1030 by screwing. According to some embodimentsseal 1062 may be embodied by a flat seal. The flat seal may be made forma suitable material as is known in the art. In some embodiments the flatseal may be made of plastic. In some embodiments the flat seal may bemade of metal, e.g. soft metal.

Portable container 1000 further comprises a microbially sealed internalcapsule 1100 configured for housing a dental implant 1120 attached to aninsertion driver 1130. External capsule 1020 is dimensioned to houseinternal capsule 1100 so that when internal capsule 1100 with implant1120 inside is suitably disposed inside external capsule 1020, implant1120 is substantially within plasma excitation region 1050 of externalcapsule 1020. Internal capsule 1100 is made of a dielectric material,possibly transparent, such as a polymeric material (e.g. Perspex®) orglass. A dielectric ring 1102 is positioned around an outer surface 1110of internal capsule 1100 so as to dimensionally match dividing shoulder1046. When internal capsule 1100 is suitably disposed inside externalcapsule 1020, dielectric ring 1102 is pressed downwards towards dividingshoulder 1046 thereby forming a contiguous dielectric barrier (composedfrom the narrow bottom part 1040 of external capsule 1020, thedielectric ring 1102 and the internal capsule 1100), that dielectricallylimits the plasma to the plasma excitation region 1050. In other words,when a plasma excitation field is applied between an external electrode(e.g. in a form of a cylinder arranged around narrow bottom part 1040,not shown in this Figure) and dental implant 1120, dielectric ring 1102prevents excitation of plasma in a region above the ring, for example inthe wide top part 1042 of external capsule 1020. Internal capsule 1100comprises equalizing slots 1104 on the outer surface 1110 of internalcapsule 1100, underneath dielectric ring 1102, extending from below thedielectric ring to above the dielectric ring. Equalizing slots 1104 areconfigured to ensure fluid communication between plasma excitationregion 1050 below dividing shoulder 1046 and dielectric ring 1102 to thespace inside wide part 1042 above dielectric ring 1102, when theinternal capsule is held inside external capsule 1020. Thus, pressureequilibrium is always maintained below and above dielectric ring 1102.

In use, sealed compartment 1010 may be sealed with internal capsule 1100and dental implant 1120 inside, internal capsule 1100 comprising agaseous composition configured to allow plasma ignition and plasmamaintaining by an electromagnetic field. According to some embodimentsinternal capsule 1100 contains a gaseous atmosphere at a lowpressure—e.g. below 1 Atmosphere or even below 0.02 Atmosphere or evenbelow 0.01 Atmosphere. The pressure and composition of the gaseousatmosphere inside internal capsule 1100 may be substantially identicalto the pressure and composition of the gaseous atmosphere withinexternal capsule 1020. According to some embodiments the pressure andcomposition inside internal 1100 capsule is different from the pressureand composition in the space between internal capsule 1100 and externalcapsule 1020. According to some embodiments, an electric field may beapplied between an external electrode (such as cylindrical electrodearound external capsule 1020) and the implant, and plasma may begenerated inside internal capsule 1100 but not in the space betweeninternal capsule 1100 and external capsule 1020.

When external capsule 1020 is closed and sealed by cap 1060, externalpressure of room atmosphere (being greater than the pressure inside theexternal capsule) thus tends to press cap 1060 towards external capsule1020. Cap 1060 is dimensioned to press onto insertion driver 1030, thusforming an electric contact with dental implant 1120 through insertiondriver 1130. Further, through insertion driver 1130 and dental implant1120, cap 1060 presses internal capsule 1100 and dielectric ring 1102onto dividing shoulder 1046, thus forming the dielectric barrier ofplasma excitation region 1050, as described above. It is noted that whencap 1060 is opened and the space above dielectric ring 1102 isventilated (reaching atmospheric pressure), the plasma excitation region1050 is ventilated also through equalizing slots 1104, thereby removingany pressure difference between below and above the dielectric ring.

Internal capsule 1100 and dielectric ring 1102 are dimensioned so as toinsert freely into external capsule 1020, and to release freelytherefrom. In other words, internal capsule 1120 is disposed insideexternal capsule 1020 substantially without friction between the twocapsules, and when sealed compartment 1010 is closed and sealed by cap1060, internal capsule 1100 is held tight, pressed between cap 1060 anddividing shoulder 1046. Thus, when cap 1060 is opened, internal capsule1100 may be freely released from external capsule 1020, e.g. by turningexternal capsule 1020 upside down, opening 1030 facing downwards,thereby causing internal capsule 1100 to slide freely downwards and falldown and out from external capsule 1020. The ventilation of plasmaexcitation region 1050 when cap 1060 is opened through equalizing slots1104 removes any pressure difference between both sides of thedielectric ring 1102, thereby preventing a net force that might apply tomaintain internal capsule 1100 inside external capsule 1020. It is notedthat various alternatives to equalizing slots 1104 are contemplated toprovide ventilation between bottom narrow part 1040 and top wide part1042 when internal capsule is disposed inside external capsule 1020.Various embodiments of channels providing fluid communication betweenbottom narrow part 1040 and top wide part 1042, as are known by thoseskilled in the art, may be employed to provide such ventilation.

FIG. 9A schematically depicts dental implant 1120 attached to insertiondriver 1130 and a cross-section of internal capsule 1100 in a semiexploded view. FIG. 9B schematically depicts dental implant 1120 andinsertion driver 1130 in an exploded view. Internal capsule 1100 isformed as an elongated hollow vessel with a top capsule opening 1140 anda sealed capsule bottom 1142. Internal capsule 1100 defines an internalcompartment 1150, having an internal surface 1152, the internalcompartment 1150 substantially housing dental implant 1120. Internalcompartment 1150 comprises a support shoulder 1154 on internal surface1152, for supporting insertion driver 1130 (attached to dental implant1120). A sealing ring 1160 is attached around insertion driver 1130, sothat when dental implant 1120 is suitably placed inside internal capsule1100, sealing ring 1160 is supported on support shoulder 1154 therebysealing the space inside internal capsule 1100 below support shoulder1154, housing dental implant 1120. It is noted that when dental implant1120 is sealed inside internal capsule 1100 e.g. in the dental implantmanufacturing site or prior to shipment of the implant, the pressureinside internal capsule 1100 may be below 1 At as described above. Wheninternal capsule 1100 together with dental implant 1120 is released fromexternal capsule 1020 following a plasma treatment as described above,room pressure around internal capsule 1100 generates pressure ontoinsertion driver 1130 towards internal capsule 1100, thereby maintainingthe sealing between sealing ring 1160 and support shoulder 1154. Whendental implant 1120 is to be installed, a surgeon or an assistant or acare giver may pull out insertion driver 1130 together with dentalimplant 1120 attached thereto from internal capsule 1100, e.g. by hand,overcoming the atmospheric pressure, and continue with preparing thedental implant for installing.

FIG. 10 schematically depicts an embodiment of an electric circuit 1200for applying a plasma activating EM field in portable container 1000. ARF power source 1210 is electrically associated with a cap electrode1220 and with a cylindrical electrode 1230. Cap electrode 1220 iselectrically contacting metal cap 1060, thereby having electricalcontact with dental implant 1120 through insertion driver 1130.Cylindrical electrode 1230 is wrapped around plasma excitation zone 1050of external capsule 1020. Electric circuit 1200 may be embodied forexample within an activation device (not shown in this Figure) sited ina clinic or a care-giving center for use prior to installing theimplant. The activation device may have a slot configured for acceptingportable container 1000 therein, so that cylindrical electrode 1230 andcap electrode 1220 are electrically associated with the portablecontainer as schematically depicted in FIG. 10. According to someembodiments portable container 1000 may comprise a cylindrical electrodewrapped around plasma excitation zone 1050 of external capsule 1020—e.g.coated onto the outer surface of external capsule 1020—and theactivation device may have an electrode configured to electricallycontact the coated region thereby providing electric power to thecylindrical electrode for establishing the plasma generating field.

Upon activation of electric circuit 1200, a plasma activation field isestablished substantially between dental implant 1120 and cylindricalelectrode 1230. The plasma activation field overcomes the dielectricbarrier formed by the external capsule 1020 and by the internal capsule1100 in the plasma generation region 1050, thereby generating plasma inthe gaseous atmosphere within the internal capsule and possibly withinthe external capsule, substantially in the space between the implant andthe cylindrical electrode. The dielectric barrier formed by dielectricring 1102 as explained above prevents generation of plasma above thering—for example in the vicinity of insertion driver 1130.

In an exemplary embodiment wherein the internal capsule and the externalcapsule are made each of a polymer material with a thickness of about 1mm, and the external diameter of the internal capsule is about 6 mm andthe external diameter of the external capsule is about 10 mm, and thegaseous atmosphere inside the internal capsule and the external capsuleconsists of air at a reduced pressure of about 0.02 Atmospheres, a RFfield at a frequency of about 1 MHz and a peak voltage betweenelectrodes of about 5 KV is sufficient to ignite plasma in the plasmageneration zone 1050.

According to some embodiments narrow bottom part 1040 of externalcapsule 1020 may be metallic (whereas top part 1042 is dielectric), andcylindrical electrode 1230 may contact bottom part 1040. A metallicbottom part 1040 may assist in igniting the plasma at a lower voltage,because the external capsule does not contribute to the dielectricbarrier that the EM field should overcome. In some embodiments the outersurface of the internal capsule may be coated with a metallic coatingfor further reduction of the voltage required for plasma ignition. Anelectrical contact may connect cylindrical electrode 1230 to themetallic coating of the internal capsule, for example by means of aspring contact between a metallic bottom part 1040 of external capsule1020 and the metallic coating of the internal capsule. It should benoted however that for establishing DBD operation mode of the plasmageneration, the internal surface 1152 of the internal compartment 1150of the internal capsule which faces the implant is dielectric.

According to an aspect of some embodiments, the RF signal provided tothe electrode or electrodes of a portable container of the invention forplasma generation may be a continuous wave (CW) signal. According tosome embodiments the RF signal provided to the electrode for applying aplasma generating field may be modulated. According to some embodimentsthe modulation signal may include pulse modulation. According to someembodiments, the modulation signal may include amplitude modulation.According to some embodiments the modulation signal may include acombination of types of modulation.

FIG. 11 depicts schematically an embodiment of an RF signal generator1250, configured to generate an RF signal at frequencies suitable forgenerating plasma in a sealed compartment according to the teachingsherein. According to some embodiments RF signal generator 1250 may beemployed as part of a power source, e.g. RF power source 1210, forgeneration an EM signal and an EM field suitable to excite plasma in asealed compartment.

RF signal generator 1250 comprises an RF continuous wave (CW) source1252 configured to generate a carrier RF signal 1300, and a pulsegenerator 1254 configured to generate a modulation signal 1310. RFsignal generator 1250 further comprises an RF mixer 1256 functionallyassociated with RF CW source 1252 and with pulse generator 1254, andconfigured and operable to output a modulated RF signal substantially asdescribed herein below. Carrier RF signal 1300 includes a continuouswave (CW) signal substantially at a frequency suitable for plasmageneration as described above. Modulation signal 1310 comprises arepetitive pattern 1320 of pulses comprising a first modulation pulse1330 at an amplitude A1 and pulse width PW1 between 0.5 usec(microseconds) and 15 usec, for example 5 usec, or 8 usec, or 10 usec.The first modulation pulse is followed by a second modulation pulse1340, having an amplitude A2 smaller than A1, e.g. half of A1 or ¼ ofA1. The second modulation pulse may have a pulse width PW2 greater thanPW1 e.g. between 10 usec and 3000 usec, for example 120 usec. The secondmodulation pulse may start at time delay DT after first modulation pulse1330 ends, where the time delay DT is shorter than an extinction time ofthe plasma following the end of the first modulation pulse, e.g. between0 and 5000 usec, for example 0.4 usec.

Repetitive pattern 1320 may cyclically repeat at a pulse repetitioninterval (PRI) of about 2 msec. Parameters of repetitive pattern 1320,including the pulse widths values PW1 and PW2, pulse amplitudes A1 andA2, the time interval between the pulses and the PRI of repetitivepattern 1320 specified above, are provided by way of a non-limitingexample, and other parameters, including other pulse widths, a differentinterval between the pulses, combinations of more than two pulses in asingle repetitive pattern and even modulations of a carrier signal thatare not purely repetitive, are all contemplated herein.

Modulation signal 1310 is mixed with carrier RF signal 1300 in RF mixer1256 to generate a modulated RF signal 1360 having suitable frequenciesand time dependency for applying a plasma-generating EM field, whensupplied to an electrode or electrodes of a portable container.Modulated RF signal 1360 is generally characterized with a firstrelatively high amplitude and short period ignition pulse 1370,associated with first modulation pulse 1330, followed by a relativelylower amplitude, longer period work pulse 1380, associated with secondmodulation pulse 1340. Ignition pulse 1370 is configured to be strongenough (that is to say, of high enough intensity) to ignite plasma in aninitially nonionic gas within the sealed compartment, e.g. by inducing asufficient number of ionized atoms and molecules, and a correspondingnumber of free electrons, for plasma generation. Work pulse 1380 isconfigured to maintain the plasma generation process after plasma hasbeen ignited by ignition pulse 1370, and may therefore have a loweramplitude than ignition pulse 1370. Maintaining the plasma generationdoes not necessitate work pulse 1380 to have a lower amplitude thanignition pulse 1370. However, according to some embodiments it may beadvantageous to maintain a plasma generation process by applying thelowest possible EM field.

Thus, according to some embodiments it is advantageous to ignite plasmawith a relatively strong ignition EM field and, subsequently,maintaining the plasma with a relatively weaker EM field. Actual powerdissipation in a plasma treatment as described herein may depend onseveral factors, including the size (dimensions) of the implant beingtreated, the material from which the implant is made, the volume overwhich plasma is generated, and dielectric barriers within the region(such as dielectric walls of a sealed compartment or of a canisterwithin that region). According to some embodiments a suitable surfacetreatment of a dental implant in the portable container 1000 in FIGS. 8,9 and 10 may be obtained using plasma activation as described aboveusing an RF field at a voltage of about 4 KV and consuming an averagepower of less than 5 W (at a duty cycle of about 10%) during a totalplasma treatment time of less than 30 seconds. According to someembodiments, heat may be generated in the implant 1120 during the plasmatreatment, such heat may be transferred from the implant to the outsidethrough insertion driver 1130 and metal cap 1060 and further away fromportable container, through cap electrode 1220. At an exemplary dutycycle of about 10%, RF power source 1210 in FIG. 10 may therefore beconfigured to provide peak power of about 50 W.

The power consumed for plasma treating as described above islargely—although not entirely—dependent on the size of the implant beingtreated. Thus providing satisfactory plasma treatment to a large implantsuch as, for example, a breast implant, may require electrical circuitryadapted for relatively high power. For example, plasma treating a breastimplant may require an average power of about 100 W or 200 W and evenabout 500 W. The peak power may be higher accordingly—as high as 5 KW inexamples discussed above—if operation scheme maintains a relatively lowduty cycle of 10%. It is therefore advantageous to provide an electricalconfiguration which allows reducing the consumed peak power, withoutreducing the consumed average power, and therefore without degrading thequality of the plasma treatment nor increasing the duration thereof.

FIGS. 12A and 12B depict schematically an embodiment of an electricalconfiguration 1400 comprising a set 1410 of electrode pairs, suitablefor plasma activation in a sealed compartment of a portable containerfor a breast implant 1418 (the sealed compartment, and the portablecontainer are not shown in these Figures). Electrode pairs set 1410comprises a multitude of pairs 1420 of electrodes—nine pairs in theexemplary, non-limiting embodiment depicted in FIGS. 12A and12B—suitable to be used with a sealed compartment having a compartmentvault with a shape of a dome and a compartment base, e.g. resembling inshape to sealed compartment 820. Each pair of electrodes 1420 a, 1420 b,. . . , 1420 i comprises a first electrode on the compartment vault anda second electrode on the compartment base. For example pair 1420 acomprises a first electrode 1420 a 1 and a second electrode 1420 a 2;likewise, pair 1420 b comprises a first electrode 1420 b 1 and a secondelectrode 1420 b 2, and so on. All the first electrodes cover togetherthe area of the compartment vault of the sealed compartment, and all thesecond electrodes cover together the compartment base of the sealedcompartment. Each electrode is electrically isolated from all the otherelectrodes in set 1410.

Electrical configuration 1400 is configured to employ electrode pairs1420 for plasma activation sequentially, that is to say substantially apair after a pair, as is further detailed and explained herein below, sothat only a portion of the implant 1418 is plasma treated at a time.Typically, but not necessarily, the treated portion consists of twosegments of the implant 1418 corresponding to a single pair ofelectrodes, however operation schemes wherein more than a single pair ofelectrodes are employed together are also contemplated. Typically, butnot necessarily, the two electrodes in an electrode pair face each otherseparated by a portion of the implant, however operation schemes whereina pair of electrodes consists of electrodes that do not face eachother—for example electrode 1420 a 1 paired with electrode 1420 g 2—arecontemplated. All the electrodes in set 1410 are dimensioned to have atleast roughly a same surface area, so as to provide a similar currentdensity when supplied with a fixed voltage, and thereby providinguniform plasma treatment over the surface of implant 1418.

Electrical configuration 1400 further comprises a RF power source 1430configured to provide RF power for activating plasma along at least aportion of the implant. Electrical configuration 1400 further comprisesa dual switch array 1440. Dual switch array 1440 comprises two switcharrays 1442 and 1444, respectively, each comprising nine electronicswitches 1442 a-1442 i and 1444 a-1444 i, respectively. Each electronicswitch 1442 a-1442 i is associated with a single first electrode 1420 a1-1420 i 1, respectively and with RF power source 1430. Likewise,electronic switch 1444 a-1444 i is associated with a single firstelectrode 1420 a 2-1420 i 2, respectively and with RF power source 1430.Each electronic switch is configured to electrically associate ordisassociate, according to a suitable command, RF power source 1430 withthe respective electrode associated with the electronic switch. FIG. 12Bschematically depicts electronic switches 1442 b and 1444 b in a closedstate, thus electrically associating RF power source 1430 with electrodepair 1420 b (that is to say, with electrodes 1420 b 1 and 1420 b 2),thereby enabling activating plasma in a segment of implant 1418 adjacentto electrode pair 1420 b. Dual switch array 1440 is further associatedwith a controller 1450, optionally comprising a processor (not shown),for commanding the dual switch array.

According to some embodiments of methods of operation, RF power sourcemay generate a constant power suitable to activate plasma between asingle pair 1420 x of electrodes and a corresponding segment of theimplant. Only a fraction of the total peak power which is required toplasma-treat the whole implant, is required for treatment of a segmentof the implant. Consequently, related circuitry, specifically RF powersource 1430, may be adapted to provide a relatively low peak power,thereby relieving performance requirements, and hence reducing cost, ofsuch circuitry.

According to some embodiments, dual switch array 1440 may be commandedto distribute RF power to the electrode pairs 1420 sequentially, namelyone pair after the other. According to some embodiments, RF power source1430 may be operated to generate RF at a fixed power level, whereas dualswitch array 1440 may be employed to distribute the power to theelectrode pairs, thereby providing plasma treatment to the implantsegment after segment. According to some embodiments dual switch array1440 may be commanded to associate a next pair of electrodes to RF powersource 1430 before disassociating a previous pair of electrodes, therebyreducing high voltage variation in the circuitry. According to someembodiments the RF power supplied by RF power source to the electrodepairs may be modulated, e.g. as is described above in FIG. 10.

There is thus provided according to an aspect of some embodiments aportable container (10, 50, 100, 420, 520, 700, 800, 1000), for handlingan implant. The portable container comprises a sealed compartment (12,52, 102, 232, 410, 510, 720, 820, 1010) enclosing an ionisable fluid ofa pre-defined composition. The sealed compartment further containstherein an implant (14, 110, 236, 416, 702, 1120, 1418) configured to beinstalled in a live subject. The sealed compartment is configured to beopened by a user, thereby enabling removing the implant from theportable container. The portable container comprises at least oneelectrode (26, 42, 60, 72, 82, 120, 130, 416 in FIG. 6A, 740, 842, 844,1120, 1420) made of an electrical conductive material, electricallyassociated with an at least one electric conductor (38 a, 38 b, 68 a, 68b, 122 a, 122 b, 450 a, 748, 852, 854, 1060, 1442 x, 1444 x), outsidethe sealed compartment and configured for applying a plasma-generatingelectric field inside the sealed compartment. The portable container isthereby configured to enable storing the implant inside the sealedcompartment, shipping or transporting the portable container with theimplant being stored therein, and, without breaking the seal of thesealed compartment and without interfering with the pre-definedcomposition of the fluid, generating plasma in the fluid using anelectric field, thereby surface-treating the implant.

According to some embodiments the implant is an artificial implant (14,236, 416, 702, 1120, 1418). According to some embodiments the implant ismetallic (14, 236, 416, 1120). According to some embodiments the implantis a dental implant (14, 1120). According to some embodiments the atleast one electrode comprises the implant, the implant beingelectrically associated with the at least one conductor outside thesealed compartment (FIGS. 1A, 2A, 10).

According to some embodiments the implant (702, 1418) is dielectric atleast on a surface thereof. According to some embodiments the implant isa breast implant (702). According to some embodiments the implantcomprises electrically conducting parts and electrically isolatingparts.

According to some embodiments the implant (110) comprises biomaterial.According to some embodiments the biomaterial is selected from the groupconsisting of bone graft, textile-based polymers, hernia mesh andcollagen membrane. According to some embodiments the biomaterial appearsin a form selected from the group consisting of powder, crushedgranules, putty, chips, gel and paste.

According to some embodiments the biomaterial is disposed inside acanister (44, 44 a, 44 b, 44 c, 44 d), the canister being inside thesealed compartment and enclosing a canister fluid of a pre-definedcomposition. According to some embodiments the canister is sealed.According to some embodiments the canister fluid comprises a pre-definedcomposition of gases at a pre-defined pressure.

According to some embodiments the canister (44 a, 44 d) is made entirelyof dielectric materials. According to some embodiments the at least oneelectrode (82) comprises an elongated member (88) and the canistercomprises an elongated shroud (90), the elongated shroud beingdimensioned to cover the electrode when the canister (44 d) is insidethe sealed compartment, thereby electrically isolating the electrodefrom the biomaterial inside the canister (44 d).

According to some embodiments the canister (44 b, 44 c) has a metallicsegment (84). According to some embodiments the metallic segment is indirect contact with the canister fluid inside the canister (44 b, 44 c).According to some embodiments the metallic segment is in electricalcontact with the at least one electric conductor outside the sealedcompartment (FIGS. 1B, 2B, 3B, 3C). According to some embodiments themetallic segment is arranged as an elongated member (86) inside thecanister (44 c), the biomaterial being disposed substantially around theelongated member.

According to some embodiments the fluid in the sealed compartment is aliquid. According to some embodiments the liquid comprises a salinecomposition. According to some embodiments the liquid comprises at leastone from the group consisting of surface treatment additives, woundhealing factors, bone growth factors, factor-beta, acidic fibroblastgrowth factors, basic fibroblast growth factors, platelet-derived growthfactors and bone morphogenetic protein substances.

According to some embodiments the fluid is a gas. According to someembodiments the gas comprises at least one from the group consisting ofargon, helium, nitrogen, oxygen and any combination thereof. Accordingto some embodiments the gas has a pressure below about one atmosphere.According to some embodiments the gas has a pressure below about 10 KPa.According to some embodiments the gas has a pressure below about 2 KPa.According to some embodiments the gas has a pressure below about 1 KPa.

According to some embodiments the at least one electrode comprises onlya single electrode (26, 440, 740). According to some embodiments thesingle electrode (26, 440) comprises an elongated conductorsubstantially wound around the implant. According to some embodimentsthe elongated conductor (440) is wound around the sealed compartment(410). According to some embodiments the portable container (10, 420) isconfigured for plasma generation inside the sealed compartment in anInductive Coupled Plasma (ICP) mode of operation.

According to some embodiments the at least one electrode comprises twoelectrodes (26 and 42, 60 and 72, 60 and 82, 120 and 130, 842 and 844,electrode pairs 1420, respectively), electrically disconnected from oneanother, configured to apply a plasma generating electric field therebetween in a Capacitively Coupled Plasma (CCP) mode of operation.According to some embodiments at least one electrode (26, 60 120, 842and 844, electrode pairs 1420) of the two electrodes is electricallyisolated from the fluid, being thereby configured to generate plasma inthe sealed compartment in a Dielectric Breakdown Discharge (DBD) mode ofoperation.

According to some embodiments (FIGS. 2A, 2B, 10) the plasma generatingelectric field may be a DC electric field. According to some embodiments(FIGS. 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B, 4, 7A, 7B, 10, 12A, 12B) the plasma generatingelectric field is an AC electric field. According to some embodimentsthe plasma generating electric field ignites the plasma at a voltagelower than 5 KV between electrodes.

According to some embodiments the sealed compartment comprises adielectric barrier (1102) for dielectrically limiting the plasma to aplasma excitation region. According to some embodiments the dielectricbarrier is configured to prevent plasma from contacting a portion of thesurface of the implant.

According to some embodiments the sealed compartment comprises asealable cover (18, 114, 722, 822, 1060) configured to cover and open anopening for implant insertion and removing into and out from the sealedcompartment, the sealable opening being configured to be closed andsealed using the cover after opening.

The portable container of claim 1 wherein the sealed compartment (12)comprises a tap (48) configured to enable evacuating the sealedcompartment and filling the sealed compartment with a desired fluidthrough the tap and further configured to be sealed after evacuating andfilling.

According to some embodiments the portable container further comprisesan electrical circuit electrically associated with the at least oneelectrode and configured to provide to the at least one electrodeelectric power suitable for applying a plasma generating electric fieldin the sealed compartment. According to some embodiments the electriccircuit is configured to consume energy from a portable electric DCsource, thereby being operable as a stand-alone plasma generator.

According to some embodiments the portable container (1000) furthercomprises an internal capsule (1100) contained within the sealedcompartment (1010) and containing the implant (1120) therein. Accordingto some embodiments the internal capsule (1100) is microbially sealed.According to some embodiments the sealed compartment (1010) isconfigured for freely releasing the internal capsule (1100) therefrom.According to some embodiments the electrode comprises the implant(1120), the implant being metallic, and the internal capsule (1100)comprising a metal segment (1130) being in electric contact with themetallic implant (1120) and with the at least one conductor (1060) ofthe portable container. According to some embodiments the implant 1120is a dental implant.

According to some embodiments the portable container (700, 800) furthercomprises an external capsule (710, 810) containing therein the sealedcompartment (720, 820). According to some embodiments the externalcapsule (710, 810) is configured for freely releasing the sealedcompartment (720, 820) therefrom. According to some embodiments the atleast one electrode consists of a single electrode (740) enveloping theimplant (702) and electrically isolated from the fluid inside the sealedcompartment. According to some embodiments the at least one electrodecomprises at least one pair of electrodes (840, 1420), electricallyisolated from one another and isolated from the fluid inside the sealedcompartment. According to some embodiments the portable container may bedimensioned and configured to contain a breast implant (702, 1418) inthe sealed compartment. According to some embodiments the portablecontainer further comprises an implant support agent (750, 860) made ofa dielectric material and disposed between the implant and a compartmentinternal surface (752, 862), thereby maintaining a uniform distancebetween the implant and the at least one electrode.

According to an aspect of some embodiments there is provided anapparatus (200, 300) for plasma treatment of an implant prior toinstalling the implant in a live subject. The apparatus comprises anactivation device (210, 310) comprising a slot (220, 340) configured toreceive a portable container (230). The portable container comprises asealed compartment (232) enclosing an ionizable fluid of a pre-definedcomposition, and further contains therein an implant (236) configured tobe installed in a live subject. The sealed compartment is configured tobe opened by a user, thereby enabling removing the implant from theportable container. The activation device further comprises anelectrical circuit (250, 350, 1200) configured to be electricallyassociated with at least one electrode (240 a, 240 b, 380). Theelectrical circuit is further configured to provide to the at least oneelectrode electric power suitable for applying a plasma generatingelectric field in the sealed compartment, when the portable container isdisposed in the slot.

According to some embodiments the apparatus further comprises a portablecontainer such as any portable container described herein.

According to some embodiments the electrical circuit (350, 250) iselectrically associated with an electrode (380, 440 in FIG. 6A) forminga spiral, the spiral loops around the sealed compartment (232, 410) whenthe portable container (230, 420) is disposed in the slot (340, 220).According to some embodiments electrical circuit (250) is electricallyassociated with two electrodes (540 and 550, 640 and 650) beingelectrically disconnected from one another, each of the two electrodesforming a spiral, the two spirals are alternatingly looped around thesealed compartment (510) when the portable container (520) is disposedin the slot (250). According to some embodiments electrical circuit(1200) is electrically associated with a cylindrical electrode (1230)arranged around the sealed compartment (1010) when the portablecontainer (1000) is disposed in the slot.

According to some embodiments the portable container (10, 50, 100, 420,520, 700, 800, 1000) comprises at least one electrode (26, 42, 60, 72,82, 120, 130, 416 in FIG. 6A, 740, 842, 844, 1120, 1420) made of anelectrical conductive material, and configured for applying a plasmagenerating electric field inside the sealed compartment (12, 52, 102,232, 410, 510, 720, 820, 1010). The electrode is associated with anelectric conductor (38 a, 38 b, 68 a, 68 b, 122 a, 122 b, 450 a, 748,852, 854, 1060, 1442 x, 1444 x) outside the sealed compartment, and theapparatus comprises an electric contact (240 a, 240 b, 1220)electrically associated with the electric circuit and configured toelectrically contact the electric conductor of the portable containerwhen the portable container is disposed in the slot.

According to some embodiments the plasma generating electric field is aDC electric field. According to some embodiments the plasma generatingelectric field is an AC electric field. According to some embodimentsthe plasma generating electric field has a frequency above 10 KHz orbetween 0.1 MHz and 20 MHz, or between 20 MHz and 300 MHz or between 300MHz and 3 GHz, or between 3 GHz and 30 GHz, or between 30 GHz and 300GHz. According to some embodiments the plasma generating electric fieldhas a total potential drop (e.g. between electrode 240 a and electrode240 b) below 10 KV. According to some embodiments the plasma generatingelectric field ignites the plasma at a voltage lower than 5 KV betweenelectrodes.

According to an aspect of some embodiments there is provided a method ofhandling an implant configured to be installed in a live subject. Themethod comprises sealing the implant in a compartment of a portablecontainer. The compartment, when sealed with the implant therein,encloses an ionizable fluid of a pre-defined composition. The sealedcompartment is configured to be opened by a user, thereby enablingremoving the implant from the portable container. The portable containeris configured for shipping and/or transportation with the implant beingstored therein. The portable container is further configured to enablegenerating plasma in the fluid using an electric field, therebysurface-treating the implant, without interfering with the pre-definedcomposition of the fluid. The method further comprises generating plasmainside the sealed compartment by applying a plasma-generating EM fieldinside the sealed compartment.

The method further comprises opening the sealed compartment and removingthe implant therefrom.

According to some embodiments the method further comprises installingthe implant in a live subject. According to some embodiments the step ofgenerating plasma and the step of installing the implant are carried outsubstantially at a same medical treatment site. According to someembodiments the method further comprises, following the step of sealingthe implant in the compartment of the portable container, transportingthe portable container to the medical treatment site.

It is appreciated that certain features of the invention, which are, forclarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may also beprovided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, variousfeatures of the invention, which are, for brevity, described in thecontext of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or inany suitable sub-combination or as suitable in any other describedembodiment of the invention. No feature described in the context of anembodiment is to be considered an essential feature of that embodiment,unless explicitly specified as such.

Although steps of methods according to some embodiments may be describedin a specific sequence, methods of the invention may comprise some orall of the described steps carried out in a different order. A method ofthe invention may comprise all of the steps described or only a few ofthe described steps. No particular step in a disclosed method is to beconsidered an essential step of that method, unless explicitly specifiedas such.

Although the invention is described in conjunction with specificembodiments thereof, it is evident that numerous alternatives,modifications and variations that are apparent to those skilled in theart may exist. Accordingly, the invention embraces all suchalternatives, modifications and variations that fall within the scope ofthe appended claims. It is to be understood that the invention is notnecessarily limited in its application to the details of constructionand the arrangement of the components and/or methods set forth herein.Other embodiments may be practiced, and an embodiment may be carried outin various ways.

The phraseology and terminology employed herein are for descriptivepurpose and should not be regarded as limiting. Citation oridentification of any reference in this application shall not beconstrued as an admission that such reference is available as prior artto the invention. Section headings are used herein to ease understandingof the specification and should not be construed as necessarilylimiting.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method of handling a breast implantconfigured to be installed through an implantation procedure, the breastimplant having a dielectric external surface, the method comprising:surface treating the breast implant by generating plasma adjacent to thedielectric external surface, thereby increasing the surface wettability;wherein the plasma is generated by a plasma generating electromagneticfield induced between electrodes arranged in several pairs, each of theelectrodes in a pair being positioned oppositely to the other electrodein the pair, and the implant is positioned in the space between theelectrodes of each pair, the plasma is thereby generated in a spacebetween at least one electrode and at least a segment of the surface ofthe implant.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the implantation procedureis carried out less than about 24 hours after the said step of surfacetreatment.
 3. The method of claim 2 wherein the implantation procedureis carried out immediately after the surface treatment.
 4. The method ofclaim 1 wherein said plasma generating electric field is induced betweenthe electrodes of the pairs sequentially, by sequentially supplying thepairs of electrodes a plasma generating electromagnetic power from apower source.
 5. The method of claim 1 wherein the plasma is generatedby a radio-frequency plasma-generating electromagnetic field.
 6. Themethod of claim 5 wherein the plasma is generated in a dielectricbreakdown discharge mode.
 7. The method of claim 5 wherein the plasmagenerating electromagnetic field is time-modulated.
 8. The method ofclaim 1 being carried out on a sterilized implant.
 9. A method ofhandling a breast implant configured to be installed through animplantation procedure, the breast implant having a dielectric externalsurface, the method comprising: surface treating the breast implant bygenerating plasma adjacently to the implant's surface, wherein, duringsaid surface treatment, the implant is in a sealed compartment in whichthe implant has been stored during transportation to a medical treatmentsite; and installing the implant in a live subject at the medicaltreatment site.
 10. The method of claim 9 wherein the implantationprocedure is carried out less than about 24 hours after said step ofsurface treatment.
 11. The method of claim 9 wherein the plasma isgenerated in a space between at least one electrode and at least asegment of the surface of the implant.
 12. The method of claim 11wherein during plasma generation the implant is positioned between atleast two electrodes and the plasma is generated by a plasma generatingelectromagnetic field induced between the at least two electrodes. 13.The method of claim 12 wherein the at least two electrodes compriseseveral electrode pairs, each electrode in a pair being positionedoppositely to the other electrode in the pair, and the implant ispositioned in the space between the electrodes of each pair.
 14. Themethod of claim 13 wherein said plasma generating electric field isinduced between the electrodes of the pairs sequentially, bysequentially supplying the pairs of electrodes a plasma generatingelectromagnetic power from a power source.
 15. The method of claim 9wherein the plasma is generated by a radio-frequency plasma-generatingelectromagnetic field.
 16. The method of claim 15 wherein the plasma isgenerated in a Dielectric Breakdown Discharge mode.
 17. The method ofclaim 16 wherein the plasma generating electromagnetic field istime-modulated.